LSU left former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris off its Week 1 roster ahead of Saturday’s game against Clemson, avoiding an immediate collision with the Southeastern Conference over newly enacted professional eligibility restrictions despite a favorable court ruling.
The Court Battle and Roster Omission
When LSU takes the field against Clemson, tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris will not be with the team. Both players were left off LSU’s Week 1 roster when the team submitted it to the SEC on Friday, according to ESPN. On Thursday, a Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction against the NCAA in their eligibility case that paved the way for players such as Wright and Harris to suit up in college for a fifth year after spending time in NFL training camps. After various arguments and legal filings, LSU earned a major victory Thursday, as a judge ruled in favor of Harris and Wright against the SEC, paving the way for LSU to include both players on its 2026 roster even though that would go against the SEC’s wishes.
Despite that court ruling, LSU ultimately decided not to risk the ire of the SEC or other conference members, leaving Harris and Wright off the roster for now. Pete Thamel reported Saturday during ESPN’s College GameDay
that LSU submitted a roster of 103 players with room for two. Both players can still be added to the roster at any point during the season since they are already enrolled at the university, and LSU has two open roster spots. After the ruling, Wright told reporters he planned to be ready to play against Clemson and said he had practiced with LSU for the past two days. LSU, in its own statement Friday, said it was reviewing the court’s order and would continue to work constructively with the SEC and NCAA as this matter moves forward.
Conference Retaliation Threats and Legal Posturing
The decision to hold Wright and Harris off the opening-day roster comes amid high-stakes legal warfare. Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that Clemson general counsel Chip Hood sent a brief email to LSU’s general counsel in which he brought up certain eligibility
issues that may break contractual obligations between the two parties.
The SEC and ACC were among several conferences that recently implemented rules to prevent players that previously declared for the NFL draft and did not withdraw consistent with NCAA requirements or signed a contract with an NFL team or another professional league from returning to play in college. The College Football Playoff also came out in support of the rules barring former professional players from the college game.
Pete Thamel noted during College GameDay
that about 10 days prior in Birmingham, SEC presidents passed new penalties that would include a half-season suspension in this case for head coach Lane Kiffin, a fine of more than $20 million, and voting rights that would be revoked if Greg Sankey, who appeared to testify, would have the autonomy to hand out any punishment he sees fit. Thamel added, The stakes are high here,
noting that LSU is not part of the SEC’s lawsuit and that whether the school is legally protected from SEC penalties is the fundamental question no one quite has their arm around.
Background of the Players and Professional Stints
The two former players are tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive end Zxavian Harris. Both guys played for Kiffin at Ole Miss for the last two seasons. More recently, though, both guys were on NFL rosters. Wright went undrafted during the 2026 NFL Draft. In early May, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, who released him on Aug. 10, and a day later he was added to the Cleveland Browns’ roster before being waived on Sunday. Notre Dame EDGE Junior Tuihalamaka became the first player to make his move to join the Bayou Bengals for the 2026 season, with ex-Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright following suit 48 hours later. Wright was one of 16 players who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in the state of Louisiana fighting for additional eligibility. Harris was also not selected in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed with the New Orleans Saints in May. Wright also saw time with the Cleveland Browns before they were cut.
Next Legal Steps and Season Outlook
As the season’s first full Saturday approaches, the story of the college football offseason has reached a temporary conclusion. The SEC sued LSU, and legal action is ongoing with the SEC awaiting word on its filings. Meanwhile, Thamel reported that both players are booked in school, so there is potential they can be added down the road.
