The college football world was watching Louisiana on Thursday as the SEC’s battle over former NFL players reached a pivotal moment. After the SEC passed rules to punish teams who roster any players who were on an NFL roster, plaintiffs in Louisiana sought an injunction against the NCAA and the conference.
When Louisiana judge William Jorden granted a preliminary injunction on Thursday, it seemingly cleared a path for players like Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to play for LSU. Following the ruling, Dae'Quan Wright spoke with the media, where he said that he expected to play in LSU's season opener against Clemson.
Daquan Wright speaking about his return to play for LSU and Lane Kiffin pic.twitter.com/UIT6vJoWGl
— Michael Cauble (@Cauble) September 4, 2026
Friday was the deadline for LSU to submit its roster for the opener, but because both players remain enrolled at the school, they could potentially be added later in the season. While Wright had high hopes for his LSU debut, it looks like he may be stuck waiting for a while to don the purple and gold.
LSU did not add former NFL players to opening roster
As the deadline to add players to the roster inched closer, ESPN's Pete Thamel broke the news that Lane Kiffin and LSU did not add Dae'Quan Wright or Zxavian Harris to its roster, instead submitting a 103-player roster that leaves two spots open for the duo later in the season.
Sources: LSU has not added Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to the team’s roster for the Clemson game. They could potentially be added later in the year, as both are enrolled in school. LSU has 103 players on the roster submitted, and that leaves them two spots. pic.twitter.com/aLJ797WKhJ
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 5, 2026
The decision by Lane Kiffin and LSU is fascinating, especially after it appeared the Tigers were preparing to add the two players following Thursday's ruling. It certainly looks like LSU is trying to avoid escalating its legal battle with the SEC, which filed a lawsuit against the school on Thursday.
What's particularly interesting is that the Tigers did include Notre Dame transfer Junior Tuihalamaka on the roster. Like Wright and Harris, Tuihalamaka received another year of eligibility, but unlike them, he never signed with an NFL team.
Thursday's ruling is unlikely to be the final word in this saga. As long as the SEC can threaten LSU with potential punishment, the Tigers will have to weigh the benefits of adding Wright and Harris against the consequences that could follow.
Dae'Quan Wright appears to be ready to play the moment that LSU allows him to after spending the NFL Preseason with the Cleveland Browns. The delay, however, won't affect Zxavian Harris, as he's still recovering from a leg injury and has targeted the Ole Miss game as his date to return to the field.
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