LSU president Wade Rousse sends pointed letter to SEC boss Greg Sankey
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A federal court hearing scheduled for Wednesday in the SEC’s lawsuit against LSU was continued to a date that has not been set, a day after the school quietly took the disputed players off the table itself.
LSU president Wade Rousse wrote to SEC commissioner Greg Sankey on Wednesday to say the university had complied with league rules and that the fight over former professional players was finished. The letter was obtained by ESPN through a public records request.
“LSU filled its two remaining roster spots with eligible student-athletes,” Rousse wrote. “The roster is now locked for the season. LSU complied with SEC rules. The point is moot.”
Rousse said he called Sankey on the afternoon of Sept. 4 to give advance notice that tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris would not be placed on the football roster, and that LSU submitted its roster that evening. The final two spots went to Aidan Anding and Gabriel Reliford on Tuesday, bringing Lane Kiffin’s team to the 105-player limit and closing the only route Wright and Harris had to playing this fall.
LSU president Wade Rousse sent a letter today to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, obtained by ESPN by FOIA. He says the issue of adding NFL players is “moot.” LSU will also “not challenge, disrupt or seek to cancel or postpone” the special SEC Presidents/Chancellors call tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/Xrr1X6Wpi4
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 9, 2026
What Thursday’s SEC meeting can still do to LSU
The conference’s presidents and chancellors will meet on Thursday under Section 3.1.5 of the SEC constitution, which allows them to terminate a member school by a two-thirds vote. The member in question helped found the league in 1933. Rousse addressed the meeting as well, writing that LSU had never threatened to upset it and would not challenge, disrupt or seek to cancel or postpone it. He called that issue moot too.
Pete Thamel of ESPN said on “Get Up” on Wednesday morning that the league is not expected to follow through, while noting that Sankey testified for three hours in a Louisiana state courtroom to get to this point.
“The expectation is they are not going to throw LSU from the league.”@PeteThamel breaks down whether LSU will stay in the SEC
pic.twitter.com/vPyNUC7VV0
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 9, 2026
The SEC’s federal case in northern Alabama argues that LSU is violating the conference’s First Amendment right of expressive association, and it names the Board of Supervisors, Rousse, athletic director Verge Ausberry and Kiffin.
The penalties the league adopted last month also survive the letter: a half-season suspension for a head coach and a fine equal to half a program’s annual operating budget. A Louisiana judge barred the SEC from enforcing any of it against LSU, and that order holds while the case runs.
Kiffin was leading Clemson 31-3 at halftime of a 51-10 opening win when he told ESPN’s Holly Rowe, “Imagine if we had pro players.” The SEC quoted the moment back at him in its amended complaint.
The same complaint notes that Rousse voted for the policy statement that created these rules on Aug. 25.
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