Judge Grants Injunction Clearing Former NFL Players to Join LSU Roster

College Football Bombshell

A landmark legal decision has sent shockwaves through college athletics on the eve of the season, setting up an unprecedented power struggle between state courts, the SEC, and the NCAA. District Judge William Jorden granted a preliminary injunction Thursday evening in Louisiana’s 19th Judicial District Court, clearing former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris along with roughly 40 other athletes to play a fifth and final season of college sports. The order temporarily bars both the NCAA and the SEC from declaring the protected athletes ineligible or issuing penalties against schools that field them.

The Injunction & Courtroom Drama

The ruling capped a marathon court hearing featuring testimony from athletes across several sports. Judge Jorden criticized the NCAA’s eligibility framework as arbitrary and inconsistent, pointing out that brief professional experiences were being treated as permanent disqualifications while other athletes retained eligibility. While the injunction applies strictly to the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit, it provides immediate, actionable relief to programs looking to bolster their depth charts on short notice.

LSU, Lane Kiffin, and Roster Reinforcements

The decision accelerates a dramatic roster situation in Baton Rouge, where both Wright (a former Ole Miss tight end who spent August with the Cleveland Browns) and Harris (a former Ole Miss defensive tackle who spent time with the New Orleans Saints) intend to join their former head coach Lane Kiffin during his debut season at LSU. Wright has already logged two days of practice with the Tigers and stated he intends to be ready for LSU’s season opener against Clemson, while Harris noted he will need a couple of weeks of conditioning to be ready for the program’s September 19 matchup against Ole Miss. The lawsuit also encompasses 42 total athletes across various sports, including former Notre Dame pass rusher Junior Tuihalamaka, who is also seeking to play for LSU.

The SEC Counterattack & Legal Standoff

The SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey have made clear they will not yield without a fight, with conference attorneys announcing immediate plans to file an appeal to Judge Jorden’s decision. The SEC reaffirmed a strict rule last week specifically designed to deter member institutions from adding former NFL, NBA, or WNBA players to their rosters. Under these regulations, the commissioner retains authority to suspend a program’s head coach for up to half the season and levy fines that could reach tens of millions of dollars, setting up a high stakes standoff as LSU prepares to take the field.