By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
LSU football coach Lane Kiffin made what appears to be a wise LSU- and self-preservation move in not adding two recent NFL roster members to his roster going into the No. 11 Tigers’ game against No. 23 Clemson on Saturday at Tiger Stadium (6:49 p.m., ABC).
“Yeah, that wasn’t easy,” Kiffin told ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis in the second hour of the 9 a.m.-11 a.m. iconic show being televised live from the LSU campus. “As much as I feel for the players, and I believe that you fight for what you believe in.”
LSU takes over GameDay with unanimous picks to beat Clemson. And country music star Lainey Wilson predicts national title for Tigers. @kacehkhttps://t.co/mtSjYl9EqX
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 5, 2026
But former Cleveland Browns roster member Dae’Quan Wright, as of just two weeks ago today, and former Saints’ roster member Zxavian Harris, as of Aug. 8 after one week in training camp, were not added by Kiffin to his roster by the deadline on Friday because of pressure from Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey. Even though, Kiffin could have added both by virtue of winning a preliminary injunction from Baton Rouge District Court Judge William Jorden on Thursday.
Instead, Kiffin chose to obey the boss of his conference in Sankey, even though he likely continues to believe he is wrong, over the law of the land – at least in Baton Rouge.
“And I believe these two have an opportunity to play, just like all the other kids around the country that are winning court cases and being put on rosters,” Kiffin said.
But Kiffin failed to make a key differentiation between Wright and Harris and “all the other kids around the country” who have recently joined other college teams for a fifth season as they are part of an eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA and various conferences under the NCAA and won temporary restraining orders or preliminary injuntions allowing them to play.
In the end, so far, Lane Kiffin was wrong about a key leg of his argument. Everybody else did NOT do it. Kiffin remains only coach to add previous signed NFL roster members. Other teams’ additions were only in tryouts or mini-camps and unsigned. https://t.co/QpnFenvZYR
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 5, 2026
Those players were not on rosters. They only participated in tryouts or mini-camps. Wright and Harris were on NFL rosters, albeit a very short time, before being cut. That is the line of demarcation as far as Sankey and his floating and unclear rules are concerned.
“But at the same time, I’m the head coach at LSU,” Kiffin said. “And I had to make a decision that is for the big picture of LSU and the LSU football program with the uncertainties of what potentially could have come by adding them to the roster. And we couldn’t get (from Sankey or others) exact reasons, or exactly what that would mean if we added them. So, with that, made the decision, which is the best interest of the team and the university. And we’re excited to be playing a great game today here in front of these fans. And let’s spot the ball.”
But he could add the two players later when things are clearer and more “exact” with the court case. And there is also a separate case in which Sankey and the SEC sued Kiffin, LSU president Wade Rousse and athletic director Verge Ausberry in federal court in Birmingham, Alabama, with possibly their friendly judge. That suit centers on allegations by the SEC that LSU orchestrated the Louisiana eligibility lawsuit that landed in Jorden’s courtroom so Kiffin could recruit NFL roster members.
Kiffin has kept open two roster spots for Wright and Harris potentially as he has only 103 spots filled on the maximum 105 limit.
“It’s going to be an awesome night,” Kiffin said, turning back to the game. “Our players are going to be ready to go. It’s going to be electric.”
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