LSU‘s football team this season features zero players who have signed NFL contracts, but that doesn’t mean the battle with the SEC is over.
The school filed a motion to dismiss the conference’s federal lawsuit on Friday, citing a lack personal jurisdiction over the defendants — which include head coach Lane Kiffin, several university leaders — and Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill — and the complaint’s failure to “state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”
The SEC responded quickly, complaining that LSU was making a move against it amid discussions to reach a resolution for the dispute. Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reports that the SEC and LSU legal teams had been in negotiations this week for such a resolution, but failed to reach one.
The Southeastern Conference is aware of the motion filed Friday by LSU officials and the Louisiana Attorney General seeking dismissal of the conference’s federal lawsuit.
We are deeply disappointed that this filing came amid efforts to reach a resolution with LSU that would address our other member universities’ concerns about LSU’s commitment to the conference’s rules and shared governance responsibilities.
Those concerns remain unresolved. The conference is preparing its response in court and will uphold the standards agreed upon by its member universities and the responsibilities of conference membership.
The Southeastern Conference is aware of the motion filed Friday by LSU officials and the Louisiana Attorney General seeking dismissal of the conference’s federal lawsuit.
We are deeply disappointed that this filing came amid efforts to reach a resolution with LSU that would address our other member universities’ concerns about LSU’s commitment to the conference’s rules and shared governance responsibilities.
Those concerns remain unresolved. The conference is preparing its response in court and will uphold the standards agreed upon by its member universities and the responsibilities of conference membership.
In addition to the filing, Murrill released a statement to Yahoo Sports criticizing the SEC and its case:
“While I appreciate attempts by both sides to de-escalate, the SEC has not moved to end the federal lawsuit against LSU or me, as Attorney General. It is therefore appropriate for me to act in the sovereign interests of the State of Louisiana and move for its dismissal. The case is improper and moot.”
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“While I appreciate attempts by both sides to de-escalate, the SEC has not moved to end the federal lawsuit against LSU or me, as Attorney General. It is therefore appropriate for me to act in the sovereign interests of the State of Louisiana and move for its dismissal. The case is improper and moot.”
The SEC filed its suit in response to LSU’s recruitment of Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright, two former Ole Miss players who signed contracts with NFL teams last offseason, failed to make the teams in training camp and tried to return to college football with their former coach Kiffin.
The LSU-SEC legal battle never really went away.
The decision to add two players who count as professionals under basically every previous standard the NCAA has ever set triggered an uproar across the SEC, which went as far as scheduling a meeting over whether or not to kick the school out of the conference it helped found in 1932.
LSU ultimately backed down, filling its final open roster spots to lock out Wright and Harris for the 2026 season. The situation de-escalated from there, with a court hearing over the SEC’s lawsuit getting delayed after calls between LSU president Wade Rousse and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.
That lawsuit never went away, though, nor is the matter resolved. There is nothing stopping LSU from trying the same thing next year and actually following through, hence why the discussions over the lawsuit continued. And now it looks like both parties are getting ready to head back to court.
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