The LSU Tigers have been the biggest story of the offseason, between how messy the 2025 season was and what they've done to try and correct the mistake. The Tigers came into the season as an expected College Football Playoff team, and left looking for a new head coach, firing Brian Kelly amid a disastrous season.
The solution to the problem was to bring in Lane Kiffin, as the long-time Ole Miss head coach left the Rebels at the end of the regular season to try and restore LSU's status as a championship contender. The entire way Lane Kiffin has built his staff and his roster has been interesting, as the Tigers poached a ton of pieces from Ole Miss while reportedly spending over $40 million on the team as a whole.
If anyone thought that the noise around Baton Rouge would quiet down with the season approaching, they clearly forgot that there's never a boring day at LSU.
Lane Kiffin uses latest ruling to add Junior Tuihalamaka
This week, a shocking decision was handed down as a Louisiana Judge granted Temporary Restraining Orders to 16 players who could return to college football. The decision also granted the players the chance to enter the Transfer Portal on top of being allowed to return to the level.
Most LSU fans looked at Jack Pyburn as the edge rusher that could return as reports swirled that he was looking to leave the Buccaneers for another season at the college level. Instead, on Friday Afternoon, Lane Kiffin and LSU used the decision to add Notre Dame transfer Junior Tuihalamaka.
NEWS: Notre Dame transfer defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka has committed to LSU, per his agent Noah Reisenfeld of 21 Sports & Entertainment. Tuihalamaka is eligible for a fifth year of college football from the state court ruling in Louisiana on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/ILB4hJ1trV
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 21, 2026
The move helps LSU add even more depth to their defensive line which has gone under a ton of change this offseason. The Tigers made splash additions bringing in Princewill Umanmielen from Ole Miss and Jordan Ross from Tennessee as well as a talented trio of freshmen who could play a ton at defensive tackle.
When Junior Tuihalamaka's return to college football was made possible, Marcus Freeman was asked about bringing him back to Notre Dame, which Freeman shut down, citing how late of a decision this is.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman on fifth-year rulings, particularly former Irish DE Junior Tuihalamaka, whom he says he hasn't talked to:
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) August 21, 2026
"It's just too late in the graduate admissions process. And I don't think it would put a person in a good situation this late — school starts… pic.twitter.com/vkQjo52ylo
The decision shouldn't have ever happened, given the fact that games kick off in less than a week, and now a new group of players is hitting the open market. The NCAA fumbled its decision to move to the 5-for-5 eligibility rule, and it's created an even bigger mess that nobody can fully figure out as court decisions are being handed down every day.
The latest decision in Louisiana may not be the final decision, as there will certainly be pushback from the NCAA and the SEC on if these players should be allowed to play this season.
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