The 2026 college football season officially lifts off this week, and the SEC already finds itself in a legal quagmire over Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers‘ attempt to roster a couple of former NFL players ahead of Week 1.
The SEC joined a handful of conferences, including the Big 12 and the Big Ten, in outright banning professional athletes from re-entering the league and penalizing schools found in violation of the new governance.
This comes as Kiffin plans on suiting up two ex-NFL players, Dae’Quan Wright, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, who similarly signed with the New Orleans Saints and was waived by the team earlier this month. The legal waters around clearing both players are muddy, and a new report from FootballScoop alleges Kiffin encouraged pro players to sue the NCAA for a return to college ball.
As of Thursday, three of the Power Four conferences had publicly drawn out some variety of language banning NFL athletes independent of their remaining or contested college eligibility. Some of the strongest terms came from the Big 12.
The Meat and Potatoes
You can’t have former NFL players rejoining the league. College football’s Power Four are smart to bring down such a strong hammer on the issues and give guys like Kiffin an ultimatum about their role in opening the doors to former pros.
Last hoops season, James Nnaji stirred similar controversy signing with the Baylor Bears despite going to the Detroit Pistons 31st overall in the 2023 draft before taking his career overseas. Even without college eligibility, Nnaji, under the Big 12’s official ruling on professional athletes, couldn’t play basketball for the Bears. He’d average minimal numbers in Waco last year and is set to play out his second season of college basketball at George Mason, but the fact remains: he shouldn’t be eligible, period.
It’s a Pandora’s box coaches like Kiffin are opening with little regard for how much it affects the sport and the message it sends to those college athletes weighing a draft decision. As much as the money has blurred lines, they’re still two separate levels of play, and no separate lawsuit or injunction should jeopardize a conference’s wish to ensure integrity along the lines of eligibility.
