An NFL player, LSU and a legal loophole: College football's bizarre eligibility fight is getting wild

College sports witnessed a groundbreaking moment on Thursday when a former NFL player, Dae’Quan Wright, entered the NCAA transfer portal. Wright, who signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and is now in training camp with the Cleveland Browns, was not the only player to do so. Several other players, some of whom have already signed professional contracts, also entered the portal.

These players are part of a lawsuit group seeking a fifth year of eligibility due to the NCAA's new five-year, age-based eligibility policy. A Louisiana judge, Will Jorden, granted players a fifth season and allowed them to enter a newly created week-long transfer portal. The ruling also exempted players who signed professional contracts from the association's ban on pro players returning to college.

This case is part of a growing trend, with over 150 athletes across 15 states filing eligibility lawsuits. Several judges have ruled in favor of the players, granting them temporary restraining orders or injunctions that prohibit the NCAA from enforcing its rules. However, the NCAA has lost only a few cases in federal court, and their appeal of a Colorado judge's decision could force the association to reconsider granting eligibility waivers to players in the 2022 class.

The situation at LSU is particularly noteworthy, as the lawsuit was filed by former Rebel coach Lane Kiffin, who now coaches LSU. Three Ole Miss players, including Wright, were previously coached by Kiffin. The ruling could potentially set a precedent for conference-bylaw enforcement, as the SEC has threatened to enforce its intraleague transfer rules if players transfer to LSU using the temporary restraining order.

This development may test the SEC's potential move towards creating its own governance system, separate from the NCAA, to avoid legal challenges.