LSU opted not to place Dae'Quan Wright and Xzavian Harris on its roster for the season opener against Clemson, a move that left the team’s roster at 103 players and two open slots.
Kiffin frames decision as protecting the program
Lane Kiffin said he made the call with the “big picture” of LSU in mind, acknowledging frustration for the two players while defending the choice. “I believe you fight for what you believe in, and I believe these kids have a right to play just like all the other kids around the country that are winning court cases and being put on rosters,” Kiffin said. “But, at the same time, I’m the head coach of LSU and I had to make a decision that is for the big picture of LSU and the LSU football program.”
Kiffin also pointed to “the uncertainties of what could come” as a factor in keeping the pair off the field for the opener, saying the situation could change and the players could be added to the roster at a later date.
Legal backdrop: injunction, lawsuit and the specter of SEC penalties
The roster pause comes amid active litigation between LSU and the SEC. The conference has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the players from participating, and a preliminary injunction issued in Louisiana currently prevents the conference or the NCAA from penalizing any school for rostering the two athletes, NBC Sports reported.
CBS Sports reported that the looming threat of SEC penalties — and not simply the legal rulings — has slowed LSU’s plan to add Dae'Quan Wright and Xzavian Harris. CBS noted that after a recent court decision cleared the way to roster the players, lingering uncertainty prompted the team to hold off for the opener and that Kiffin addressed the absence during national media appearances.
CBS Sports also outlined the penalties the SEC has proposed for teams that play athletes who spent time in professional leagues: suspending the head coach for 50 percent of the season and imposing a financial penalty on the school equal to 50 percent of the sport’s operations budget. That framework, CBS reported, was a significant deterrent in LSU’s decision-making.
Headtopics reported LSU submitted a roster with only 103 players, leaving two spots open.
For now, LSU’s decision places the program at the center of a dispute that remains unresolved in the courts. Coaches, players and administrators will be watching the litigation and any subsequent rulings closely as the season progresses and as the possibility of adding the two players remains open.
