Leaders of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) are gathering Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama, to discuss whether to take the extraordinary step of removing Louisiana State University (LSU) from the league. The discussion follows a heated dispute over the conference’s rule that bars players with prior NFL experience from returning to college football.
SEC’s legal action and upcoming vote
The SEC has amended a federal lawsuit it filed last week in Birmingham, asking a judge for a temporary restraining order to keep LSU from interfering with Thursday’s meeting of university presidents and chancellors. Under SEC bylaws, a two‑thirds vote of the conference’s chief executives would be required to expel a member.
Why LSU’s membership is at risk
Commissioner Greg Sankey said the consensus among league leaders is that LSU’s continued membership would conflict with the publicly stated values and principles of the conference, even if the school does not ultimately place former NFL players on its roster. “The lack of institutional control and the serious harm caused by statements and conduct of LSU” were cited as reasons for the meeting.
SEC officials also noted that LSU’s president, Wade Rousse, and athletic director Verge Ausberry have not demonstrated “meaningful control” over head coach Lane Kiffin or the football program, raising concerns about governance and compliance with league rules.
Background on the rule and recent court decision
The SEC established a rule prohibiting teams from adding players who have previously played in the NFL. Last Friday, a local judge in Baton Rouge barred the league from enforcing that rule, a decision celebrated by the state’s governor and attorney general.
Two former NFL players, Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright, have been practicing with LSU but were not on the roster for the Tigers’ 51‑10 victory over Clemson last Saturday. The SEC noted that two roster spots remain open for the possibility of adding them, and that both athletes previously played at Ole Miss under former head coach Lane Kiffin before moving to LSU.
SEC’s stance on governance
In a statement, the conference affirmed its right to establish rules and emphasized that “a commitment to those rules and to the core principles of the SEC is an essential element of membership.” The filing, the SEC said, is necessary to defend that right and preserve the conference’s ability to govern competition among its members.
Sankey added that the upcoming meeting will consider whether LSU should be expelled regardless of whether the school renounces its intention to roster former professional players.
What this means for college football
If LSU is removed, the SEC would lose one of its founding members, a school that has been part of the league since its inception in 1933. The decision could set a precedent for how the conference enforces its eligibility standards and maintains institutional control across its member institutions.
For now, LSU has declined to comment on the matter. The outcome of Thursday’s meeting will determine whether the league takes the unprecedented step of kicking out a founding school to uphold its values and competitive integrity.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.
