Clemson became the latest voice to speak out against LSU’s attempt to get additional eligibility for players who spent this offseason on NFL rosters on Friday, according to a Yahoo Sports report.
Tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris — both of whom played for new LSU coach Lane Kiffin last season at Ole Miss and have stated their intention to join LSU’s roster for the 2026 season — were among 42 athletes who were deemed eligible in court Thursday due to a preliminary injunction ruling from Louisiana district court judge William Jorden.
The general counsel for Clemson, which is set to open the season Saturday at No. 11 LSU, sent an email to LSU’s general counsel Friday afternoon, stating that using these players, who participated in NFL training camps this summer before they were waived last month, may break “contractual obligations between the two parties” for Saturday’s game, per Yahoo.
Clemson made it clear in the message it still intends to travel to Baton Rouge, La., and play in Saturday’s game with the hope that LSU will choose not to add Wright and Harris to its roster. LSU must finalize its roster on Friday.
The Southeastern Conference and NCAA have spoken out against players who signed NFL contracts returning to college — the SEC filed a federal lawsuit against Kiffin and a host of LSU administrators earlier Thursday in Alabama in an attempt to prevent the players from returning — the injunction, as it currently stands, prevents the SEC or NCAA from penalizing LSU or any other school for adding the players included in this case to its roster.
The SEC passed a rule last week that permitted commissioner Greg Sankey to punish any school that added players who signed NFL contracts to its roster. A half-season suspension of the head coach and a fine of half of the school’s football athletic budget were the prescribed penalties.
The SEC passed the measure regarding the penalties by a 15-0 count, with LSU abstaining.
