SEC Sets Vote on LSU Expulsion Amid Eligibility Fight

The Southeastern Conference has scheduled a Thursday meeting of its university presidents and chancellors to consider whether LSU should remain in the league, a dramatic escalation of the ongoing legal and eligibility fight involving the Tigers' football program.

Reuters and The Associated Press reported Tuesday, Sept. 8, that the SEC amended its federal lawsuit against LSU and is seeking authority to proceed with the membership vote. Under the conference's governing rules, a two-thirds vote of SEC presidents and chancellors would be required to terminate LSU's membership.

What changed Tuesday

The immediate breaking-news development is not simply another filing in the LSU-SEC dispute. The conference has now put an actual membership vote on the calendar for Thursday, Sept. 10, according to both Reuters and AP. The SEC is also seeking a temporary restraining order intended to prevent LSU from interfering with that meeting.

That makes this a potentially historic moment. LSU has been a founding member of the SEC since 1933, and the possibility of removing the university from the conference would have enormous consequences for football scheduling, media rights, postseason access, recruiting and the broader structure of college athletics.

Why the SEC and LSU are fighting

The dispute centers on whether former professional football players can return to college competition under evolving NCAA eligibility rules. Two players repeatedly identified in the litigation and national reporting are defensive lineman Zxavian Harris and tight end Dae'Quan Wright, both of whom previously signed professional contracts.

A Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction on Sept. 3 that opened a path for the players to pursue college eligibility despite an SEC rule barring athletes who had entered the professional ranks from returning to conference competition. The Associated Press reported that the SEC opposed that ruling and subsequently intensified its legal action against LSU.

As of Tuesday afternoon, LSU's official 2026 football roster does not list either Harris or Wright. The Tigers' public roster remains available through LSU Athletics, while the university's compliance office states that LSU is responsible for following applicable NCAA and SEC rules and cooperating with both governing bodies.

Lane Kiffin is at the center of the escalation

The conflict has increasingly become intertwined with Lane Kiffin's first season at LSU. Before the Clemson opener, Kiffin said the Tigers would operate within the rules available to them and focus on what they could control. After LSU's 51-10 win over Clemson, the broader eligibility dispute remained unresolved, and the SEC's amended complaint has now pushed the matter far beyond a normal roster question.

For TigerHype's continuing coverage of the Kiffin era, visit the Lane Kiffin archive.

What happens next

• Thursday, Sept. 10: SEC presidents and chancellors are expected to meet and consider LSU's membership status.

• A two-thirds vote would be required to remove LSU from the conference.

• The federal court fight could affect whether and how that meeting proceeds.

• LSU has not announced that Harris or Wright have been added to its active public football roster as of this publication.

TigerHype will update this story if LSU, the SEC or the federal court issues a material new ruling or statement. For the broader season picture, follow the 2026 LSU Football season tracker and the 2026 LSU Football archive.

Sources

Primary reporting: Reuters, The Associated Press, LSU Athletics' official 2026 roster, LSU Compliance and SEC Sports.