Not if the conference rules violate Constitutional, statutory,or any other laws (primarily those focused on contracts).
LSU utilized state courts to get permission to sign formerly pro athletes while the SEC is responding by use of the First Amendment to the US Constitution to attempt to get a federal court to essentially “overrule” an ongoing state court order.
The 11th Amendment could be used as another source for LSU in this matter.
Most interesting is that there is no specific court forum specified in the SEC agreement with LSU for dispute resolution; instead, the contract specifies that the SEC retains all such authority as a private association.
These players were not drafted. They had tryouts and didn’t make it. I had no issue with them going back - but LSU has already set their roster and these kids were left off with no help of playing.
It looks like LSU had enough of the bad press - which in hiring Lane Kiffin and your crooked ex college hoops coach back - is saying a lot - if this was a bridge too far.
But it was - even for them - so it’s no longer a story - sadly. It would have been nice to keep it going.
United States Senator John Kennedy became the latest Louisiana politician to blast the SEC over its threat to expel LSU, saying that the conference’s complaint is “bone deep down to the marrow stupid” and that he and other members of Congress “will be on them like a hobo on a ham sandwich.”
Well, we are at 5 years for everyone now, so that’s an improvement IMO (with no red shirting, etc. we won’t have any more 25+ year olds playing in the NCAA.) And this 2026 grad problem is just a one year issue because the NCAA didn’t grandfather them in for the new 5 year rule, which was shortsighted to say the least.
The issue is they signed pro contracts. That is a clear violation of NCAA and most conference rules, meaning once you do that, you are done with college sports. Dae’Quan Wright received a signing bonus, Zxavian Wright received no signing bonus and $190 in gas money. They could both make more money on LSU’s roster this year.
If they hadn’t signed pro contracts, they would have likely been able to play as most courts have sided with 2026 grads who have sued for an extra year of eligibility. And the conferences don’t seem to have an issue with any of those players playing this year.