The bitter legal battle between LSU and the SEC over the eligibility of two football players with recent NFL ties appears to be winding down, with LSU no longer facing the threat of expulsion from the conference.
A vote on whether LSU should remain in the SEC is no longer on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting of the league’s presidents and chancellors.
The development comes after the SEC filed a federal lawsuit against LSU last week seeking to prevent the Tigers from adding former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright and former Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris to their roster.
Both players were on NFL training camp rosters last month before committing to LSU.
In an amendment to its lawsuit, the SEC said its presidents and chancellors would meet Thursday to consider whether LSU should remain a member of the conference.
But an initial hearing in the federal case was postponed Wednesday, and the agenda for Thursday’s SEC CEOs meeting no longer includes a vote on LSU’s membership.
LSU ultimately backed away from adding Wright and Harris before the season opener against Clemson.
The Tigers then filled their final two roster spots Tuesday night with injured players who are not expected to play this season.
That effectively closed the door on Wright and Harris joining the LSU roster, despite a Baton Rouge judge issuing a court order allowing both players to play for the Tigers.
With Wright and Harris no longer expected to play for LSU this season, the immediate roster dispute appears to be coming to an end.
The larger legal questions surrounding the SEC’s eligibility rules and players with recent NFL ties could still have implications beyond LSU.
And there's the possibility that Wright and Harris could sue the SEC for imposing rules and penalties that kept them from playing college football again.
