The Southeastern Conference will hold a meeting Thursday to decide whether to remove LSU, a founding member since 1933, over a dispute involving player eligibility rules.
SEC leaders amended a federal lawsuit Tuesday, seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent LSU from blocking the meeting. A two-thirds vote from the conference’s CEOs would be required to expel LSU, which has been embroiled in a legal and procedural dispute over the reinstatement of former NFL players.
Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey stated in a declaration that LSU’s continued membership could be considered inconsistent with the league’s values, even if the school does not roster the NFL-experienced players. He added that a meeting of university presidents was convened to address LSU’s stance and governance issues.
Last Friday, a Louisiana court blocked the SEC from enforcing its rule prohibiting teams from re-adding NFL players to their rosters. LSU has practiced with two players, Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright, but has not added them to the official roster. The league noted that two roster spots remain open, leaving the possibility for the players to be added.
The SEC emphasized its right to establish and enforce rules as central to conference membership. Sankey expressed concerns about LSU’s leadership, mentioning that the school’s president and athletic director lack control over the football program under coach Lane Kiffin. The league indicated that the meeting aims to consider LSU’s potential expulsion, regardless of whether the school renounces its intent to roster NFL players.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
