Amid expulsion talk, Lane Kiffin says LSU intends to comply with SEC orders regarding NFL players: ‘Of course we will’

With potential expulsion from the SEC on the table, LSU football coach Lane Kiffin stated on Monday that his program has no intention of defying SEC rules regarding former NFL players on its roster. During his first game-week news conference ahead of Saturday's season opener against Clemson, Kiffin addressed the controversy by asserting that he and LSU will comply with SEC orders.

Multiple NFL-trained players, including Dae Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, are on LSU's preseason roster. Wright had signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and was later waived by the Cleveland Browns, while Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints and was also released. Edge rusher Jack Pyburn also joined LSU in the preseason but was claimed on waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs and will return to the NFL.

These players joined LSU after a Baton Rouge judge granted eligibility to over 40 former NCAA athletes from the 2022 recruiting class, conflicting with an NCAA ruling limiting them. The NCAA's recent "five in five" model, which grants athletes five years of eligibility, does not apply to the 2022 class. The SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC have responded by barring players who have signed professional contracts from playing for their programs.

A Baton Rouge judge recently accepted an amended temporary restraining order that restored these athletes' eligibility and prevented the SEC from punishing LSU. Kiffin emphasized that LSU will follow SEC guidance regarding these players and that the team is focused on preparing for its season opener against Clemson.