Controversy followed Lane Kiffin to LSU, and now he's caught in the middle of another one just weeks into his first season with the Tigers. Kiffin attempted to add former NFL players to the Tigers' roster this season, but the SEC bans players who've signed pro contracts or appeared on a pro roster from playing college football. A Louisiana judge cleared the way for two former NFL players — ex-Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright and ex-Saints defensive lineman Zxavian Harris — to join LSU's roster anyway.
That put LSU and the SEC at odds with one another and ignited speculation that the conference could kick out one of its longest-standing members. Now, it looks like the SEC has taken the first step toward potentially making that happen. On Tuesday, Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported that the SEC has scheduled a meeting for this Thursday to "decide whether to terminate Louisiana State University (“LSU”) as an SEC member institution pursuant to Section 3.1.5 of the SEC Constitution and Bylaw." More news: Mike Norvell’s Buyout Looms Large After Florida State’s Ugly Loss to SMU LSU joined the SEC when the conference was first established in 1932, and since then, it's become one of the biggest brands in college sports.
The Tigers have won four national championships and 12 SEC championships. They've also produced 41 consensus All-Americans and three Heisman winners: Billy Cannon, Joe Burrow, and Jayden Daniels. In 2026, LSU ranked as the 11th most valuable program in college football, with an estimated valuation of around $1.32 billion.
The fact that the SEC — the premier conference in college football — would risk letting all of that go shows how seriously it views the situation. More news: Dabo Swinney’s Buyout Number is Trending After Clemson’s Blowout Loss to LSU More news: Paul Finebaum Issues Stark Warning to Arch Manning Ahead of Ohio State If LSU were expelled, the school would lose all the money, TV exposure, and recruiting pull that comes with being in the sport's most powerful conference. It would also need to scramble to restructure future schedules, as games against SEC rivals would presumably need to be replaced.
The SEC would lose here too, though, having to part with one of the most recognizable brands in the sport.
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