SEC moves away from expelling LSU but discusses possible sanctions

The SEC postponed its scheduled hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on Wednesday and will hold a meeting Thursday with representatives from at least 15 member schools. While it remains unclear whether LSU will attend, conference leaders are no longer seriously weighing expulsion of the university, which has been a founding member since 1933, according to an SEC executive and three senior football officials familiar with the discussions.

LSU added two players, Aiden Anding and Gabriel Reliford, to its roster on Tuesday night, closing the window on further additions such as former NFL signees Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. LSU President Wade Rousse sent a letter to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey citing the moves and stating the university will not interfere with Thursday’s meeting.

Conference officials may still vote on sanctions against the athletic department and individuals involved. The issue is said to extend beyond football coach Lane Kiffin, with concerns raised about men’s basketball coach Will Wade’s attempts to add former professional players. A senior SEC football administrator said some form of punishment is expected, noting LSU officials appear uncertain about forthcoming actions.

"They're worried and in the dark about what’s coming from the SEC," the administrator said anonymously.

"If you’re LSU’s administration, how can you ever fix this? You’ve lost control and harmed your reputation," another official added, expressing hope that Kiffin would be suspended.

Opinions differ on the severity of any penalty. One upper-level SEC football supervisor said Kiffin “shouldn’t have gone against the SEC” but did not support a suspension, while another referenced the Big Ten’s suspension of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh as a possible model for LSU’s upcoming game at Ole Miss.

The SEC’s amended court filing seeks to preserve its authority to discipline LSU institutionally and individually, arguing that continued association could cause “irreparable harm” to the league’s values. Financial penalties are also being discussed; under SEC bylaws, fines can reach up to 50% of a sport’s operating budget, and LSU’s football budget exceeds $50 million for 2024-25.

"If you rostered the players who were at NFL camps, it’s a big fine," an SEC football official said.

One member-school executive summed up the prevailing sentiment: "The feeling is they can’t let LSU start the fire and then say we’re sorry."