College football used to argue about targeting. LSU is arguing in two courtrooms and then lining up against Clemson on Saturday.
A Baton Rouge judge, William Jorden, granted a preliminary injunction Thursday. That clears tight end DaeโQuan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris โ both former Ole Miss starters under Lane Kiffin, both briefly NFL, both cut โ to be added for the opener.
The SEC spent the same day suing LSU, Kiffin, AD Verge Ausberry, President Wade Rousse, and the Board of Supervisors in federal court in Alabama. Commissioner Greg Sankey sat in the Louisiana hearing for hours. He says the leagueโs ban on former pros was in place before LSU went shopping.
What the fight is actually about
NCAA noise around the Class of 2022 and a fifth year spilled into โcan a guy who signed with the Browns / Saints / Bucs come back to the SEC?โ The conference voted to say no. Louisianaโs court, for these named athletes, said the league cannot enforce that this week.
If the SEC punishes LSU anyway, it is ignoring a state-court order. That is why they ran to Alabama: they want a federal umbrella, not a refereeโs flag.
The playersโ story is not a loophole meme. Both said they were hurt as seniors at Ole Miss โ Wright a labrum, Harris a broken foot he says he did not fully know about until the combine. Then camp, then a cut, then a lawsuit.
Saturday, anyway
No. 11 LSU vs No. 23 Clemson, Tiger Stadium. Kiffin is in year one in Baton Rouge. Sam Leavitt may now have another tight end. More 12 personnel is the football translation of a legal filing.
The injunction is narrow. It is not โanyone with an NFL handshake can enroll Monday.โ Lawyers for other 2022 extras will try. Sankey will try the opposite.
What this means for you
If you are watching for sport, the extra bodies matter on third down. If you are watching for the sportโs future, this is the portal-plus-NFL-camp era eating the rulebook in public. Neither thing waits for the Supreme Court.
Bottom line: Clemson still has to be blocked. The SEC is trying to block the roster. Only one of those happens at 7 p.m.
GLHR NEWS explains the news. Not investment, tax, or trading advice. Do your own work before you act.
