Louisiana Judge Rules Allowing Football Players to Go From NFL Back to College

LSU and Lane Kiffin are victorious—for now.

On Thursday evening in a courthouse in Baton Rouge, Judge William Jorden issued a ruling that extends legal protections for several college football players seeking to go from the NFL back to play in college. 

The ruling applies to dozens of players across multiple sports, and challenges the implementation of the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility rule, rather than focusing on professional participation. It has sweeping implications, notably allowing players who have played in NFL preseason to sign with college rosters for the first time.

In the wake of the landmark decision, the most immediate question was whether some of the athletes in the case would appear in games—including Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who had signed NFL contracts but have since secured deals to play for LSU this season. LSU will have to make that choice, but has previously signalled they would roster these athletes if given the chance.

Those players are now protected by a court order. 

The next question: whether the SEC and NCAA would be legally allowed to penalize LSU under the court’s order. LSU is now protected, as Jorden entered a specification protecting the school from sanctions coming from the NCAA or SEC.

The case also raised an existential question: whether the SEC has the power as a conference to enforce its rules, especially in a legal environment where the NCAA is regularly sued. That last question wasn’t answered by the ruling Thursday night. 

The conference has also filed a lawsuit of its own in Alabama federal court against LSU, Kiffin, and athletic director Verge Ausberry. With echoes of the Big 12’s case against Texas Tech over Brendan Sorsby, the SEC is seeking a federal ruling that would ensure it could prevent LSU from playing these athletes. 

Jorden’s ruling in Pyburn v. NCAA came after several hours of oral arguments, including three hours of questioning for SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey himself, according to those present in the courtroom. The hearing was described as contentious, with Sankey reportedly leaving through a side door due to security concerns. 

A web of elected officials either participated or looked on in person and from afar, including Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill, who filed a brief in support of players and attended the proceedings. During the testimony, she singled out Dae’Quan Wright, saying, “Dae’Quan Wright, who played for Ole Miss, says he lost out on seven-figure NIL money in a fifth year. Mississippi didn’t fight for him, but Louisiana will.”

The legal battle didn’t originate as one over former NFL players, however. The first Louisiana state case was one of many filed against the NCAA challenging the implementation of its new “age-based eligibility policy.” The new rules allow players five seasons of eligibility—but the NCAA said it would not extend this new policy to players who started college in 2022 and had already exhausted four years of eligibility. 

The players who filed the Louisiana suit were part of this group, but the case drew ire because some of the athletes had signed NFL contracts (even preseason deals) and been listed on NFL rosters. After Judge Jorden issued a temporary restraining order in favor of the players, LSU scooped up two of them: Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. 

In response, the SEC (as well as other conferences) released a policy banning players with NFL preseason experience. Neither the players nor LSU appeared to back down, however: Kiffin allowed Wright to join LSU practices earlier this week, while players’ attorneys got the SEC added to the temporary restraining order.  

Because of the SEC’s lawsuit, the drama is likely only beginning. The case argues that the SEC would be harmed if LSU rosters players with NFL preseason experience or who signed NFL contracts, and asks a judge to “enter a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting Defendants from violating the Conference’s First Amendment rights by compelling the Conference to associate with conduct that is contrary to the Conference’s purpose and mission.”

LSU’s roster for the season is due to be finalized on Friday. On Saturday, the Tigers will finally take the field against Clemson for the most highly anticipated team debut of the year.

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