SEC sues LSU over recruitment of professional athletes

The Southeastern Conference filed a lawsuit in the Northern District Court of Alabama on Tuesday, accusing Louisiana State University of violating the conference's professionalism rules. The legal action targets LSU administrators, including President Wade Rousse and football coach Lane Kiffin, for allegedly using state courts to obstruct the SEC's ability to govern its member institutions. The SEC contends that LSU attempted to circumvent league regulations by recruiting athletes with professional experience in the National Football League or National Basketball Association. This development follows a series of eligibility lawsuits filed by athletes in the 2022 class, who argued that the NCAA's new five-year eligibility window should grant them an additional season. After a Louisiana district court ruled that former professional football players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris were eligible to play, the SEC adopted a rule barring athletes with professional experience from returning to college sports. In response, LSU players sued the conference in a Baton Rouge court. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey testified for over five hours during that proceeding, during which the conference filed its own suit against LSU for encroaching on its First Amendment rights. Although LSU removed Wright and Harris from its football roster just before playing Clemson, the SEC argues this decision does not moot its claims. The conference stated that LSU continued to collaborate with plaintiffs to obtain state-court orders preventing the enforcement of its professionalism rules. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill dismissed the SEC's lawsuit as "garbage," asserting that LSU has broken no rules and that the case should be dismissed. The dispute has now shifted to LSU basketball, where coach Will Wade has focused on players with professional backgrounds. The SEC's filing notes that former NBA player RJ Luis Jr. was granted an injunction allowing him to play college basketball this season. While Luis has not been added to the official roster, he has been permitted to practice with the team. Wade stated during SEC Media Days that LSU will follow all conference protocols regarding Luis, noting that the player did not travel with the team to McNeese and has not been rostered. However, the official basketball roster is not due until one day before the first regular-season game, leaving time for further additions. The SEC maintains that LSU's threatened interference with its governance freedoms is ongoing. A judge in Alabama is expected to rule on whether the case will proceed.