SEC sues LSU over recruitment of former professional athletes

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against Louisiana State University (LSU) in the Northern District Court of Alabama, accusing the school of attempting to circumvent conference rules that bar athletes with professional experience from competing in college sports. The filing alleges that LSU recruited former professional football players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris and former NBA player RJ Luis Jr., and that the university used state courts to block the SEC from enforcing its professionalism regulations.

SEC officials said the threat of legal action is not hypothetical, noting that LSU and its legal team have already obtained court orders that impede the conference’s ability to enforce the rules. The conference argues that LSU’s recent decision not to place the two former football players on its roster does not invalidate its claims.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill responded to the SEC lawsuit, describing it as “garbage” and asserting that LSU has not broken any rules.

"The new response by SEC lawyers proves that the Commissioner was never acting in good faith," Murrill said.

LSU’s athletic department filed a motion to dismiss the SEC’s suit. In a statement during SEC Media Days, basketball coach Will Wade said the university would comply with SEC protocols.

"We're going to follow all the SEC protocols with him," Wade said.

The dispute follows a broader series of lawsuits concerning athlete eligibility after the NCAA’s 2022 eligibility guidelines were challenged. A Louisiana district court recently ruled that Wright and Harris were eligible to play despite their professional backgrounds, prompting the SEC to adopt a rule barring such athletes from returning to college competition.

The case now awaits a ruling from a judge in Alabama on whether the SEC’s lawsuit will proceed.