A Louisiana state judge issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, preventing the NCAA from barring former professional athletes and fifth-year players from competing at Louisiana State University (LSU). The ruling by East Baton Rouge Parish Judge William Jorden allows LSU to include several former NFL players on its roster just two days before its football season opener against Clemson. While the injunction provides a pathway for these athletes to return to college sports, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) countered by filing a federal lawsuit against LSU in Alabama, alleging the university conducted a "coordinated campaign" to recruit professionals in violation of league rules.
The legal conflict stems from recent shifts in NCAA eligibility rules that now allow for five full years of competition. Athletes involved in the litigation argued they only signed professional contracts because the expanded eligibility rules were not adopted until after they had already decided to leave college. Last week, the SEC and other Power Four conferences adopted penalties to prevent schools from rostered former pros, prompting the current court battle over whether a conference has the authority to enforce standards stricter than the NCAA's current court-ordered baseline.
During a nine-hour hearing on Thursday, several athletes testified that their professional careers were brief and resulted in minimal earnings. Former New Orleans Saints lineman Zxavian Harris testified he received only $190 in travel expenses while rehabbing an injury, while former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright stated he received a $25,000 signing bonus he was willing to repay for college eligibility. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, who testified for two hours, argued that a line must be maintained between professional and college sports to prevent incoming students from being displaced by veteran professionals.
This ruling directly affects approximately 450 athletes nationwide who are seeking additional eligibility through litigation, with roughly 300 having already secured the temporary right to play. At LSU, the decision impacts football players Zxavian Harris, Dae’Quan Wright, and Blake Cotton, as well as athletes in soccer and softball. For these individuals, the outcome determines whether they can continue their education while receiving college compensation, which Harris and Wright noted reached approximately $1 million each during their previous years in school.
The conflict involves the SEC’s 16 member institutions and sets a precedent for how much control a conference maintains over its internal eligibility standards. If the SEC prevails in its federal suit, LSU could face penalties including fines, half-season suspensions for coaches like Lane Kiffin, and the loss of university voting privileges on league business.
For the broader college sports market, this case tests the enforceability of amateurism rules in an era where college athletes can earn seven-figure sums through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. A final decision will clarify whether conferences can legally distinguish between U.S. professional leagues like the NFL and NBA versus overseas or developmental leagues. The next immediate step occurs on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, the deadline for SEC schools to submit their final 2026 rosters. While Judge Jorden’s injunction allows LSU to list the players now, their long-term eligibility and the SEC's federal challenge remain pending in the courts.
Attorneys for the athletes, led by Tony Clayton, have characterized the SEC's federal filing in Alabama as an attempt to bypass Louisiana jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Louisiana state officials, including Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill, have publicly supported the athletes, arguing that the players were unfairly restricted by shifting NCAA policies. The SEC’s federal lawsuit seeks an injunction to bar LSU from violating what the conference describes as its First Amendment right to associate only with conduct that aligns with its mission.