LSU Holds Ex-NFL Players Off Roster for Opener

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin opted not to place former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris on the team’s roster for its season-opening game against Clemson on Saturday, September 5, 2026, despite a recent court ruling that cleared the way for their eligibility. The decision, announced ahead of the Friday night roster deadline, temporarily pauses a high-stakes confrontation between the university and the Southeastern Conference over the return of professional athletes to college football. The move came less than 24 hours after a Louisiana district court judge issued a preliminary injunction on September 4, barring the SEC and NCAA from penalizing schools that rostered the players. The ruling was a legal victory for Wright, a tight end, and Harris, a defensive lineman, who had signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents this offseason before being waived. Both had previously played for Kiffin at Ole Miss. Despite the injunction, Kiffin cited uncertainties about potential repercussions as the reason for holding the players out. “That wasn’t easy. As much as I feel for the players, and I believe you fight for what you believe in . . .