‘That wasn’t easy’: Lane Kiffin breaks his silence on decision on NFL players
· Yahoo Sports
Over the past few weeks, the LSU Tigers and head coach Lane Kiffin have pushed to potentially add multiple players to their roster who have already signed professional contracts and spent time with NFL teams this preseason. Ultimately, the team did not add those players to the roster before Saturday’s game against Clemson, and Kiffin is explaining why.
While the players were technically eligible to play in Saturday’s game against Clemson after a court injunction, Kiffin ultimately decided to keep them off the roster, calling the move a difficult decision.
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LSU Looks to Add Former Pro Players
LSU and Kiffin have been moving forward with plans to bring in at least three players who signed professional contracts this summer, including former Ole Miss players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris.
Adding those players to the roster would break two separate league rules, as the SEC prohibits players from entering the conference after signing a professional contract while also restricting intraconference transfers outside of the designated portal window.
However, a Baton Rouge judge has issued an order preventing both the NCAA and SEC from enforcing their restrictions related to eligibility, the transfer portal, and professional players returning to college football. On Thursday, Judge William Jorden, out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ruled in favor of LSU by approving a preliminary injunction “that prohibits the NCAA and SEC from punishing any school” that fields former professional players.
Ultimately, LSU opted against adding the players to the roster for this game, but they could still be added at a different point this season.
‘That wasn’t easy’
During an interview with ESPN’s College GameDay ahead of Saturday night’s game between LSU and Clemson, Kiffin explained why he chose not to include those players on the roster.
“That wasn’t easy,” Kiffin said. “As much as I feel for the players and I believe that you fight for what you believe in, and I believe these kids have an opportunity to play just like all the other kids around the country that are winning court cases and being put on rosters.
Pat McAfee to Lane Kiffin: “I’m a daily sports show host, so thank you.”
Kiffin also addresses the eligibility of Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris and the decision not to roster them yet for LSU. pic.twitter.com/3xwBic9l8g
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 5, 2026
“But at the same time, I’m the head coach of LSU 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. We couldn’t get exact reasons or [exactly] what that would mean if we added them. With that, we made the decision which is in 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. Let’s spot the ball.”
We’ll have to see how LSU performs on Saturday night with all of this distraction.
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