The Southeastern Conference has officially laid out its position on athletes attempting to return to college after entering professional sports, and the consequences for an SEC school that challenges that position could be severe.

In a 79 page court filing dated September 2, 2026, the SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey argue that the conference has the independent authority to enforce its own rules against SEC schools, even when a player may have NCAA eligibility.

For LSU, that distinction is critical.

The SEC’s argument is essentially this: a player might be eligible to compete under NCAA rules, but that does not necessarily mean LSU can put that player on its roster.

LSU Is Directly Involved

The filing specifically discusses Jack Pyburn, Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris because of their NFL involvement and connections to LSU.

The SEC says Pyburn had been on an NFL roster and participated in training camp while seeking to return to LSU. Wright signed an NFL contract after playing at Ole Miss and was reported as planning to join LSU if eligible. Harris participated in an NFL training camp and was also reportedly planning to attend LSU. 

Those situations are exactly what the SEC says its professionalism rules are intended to prevent.

Who Does the SEC Consider a Professional?

An August 26 memorandum from Sankey included as Exhibit D gives a clear definition.

The SEC says an athlete has become a professional and may not be included on an SEC school’s roster if the athlete:

• Declared for the NFL, NBA or WNBA Draft and did not properly withdraw.

• Signed a contract with an NFL or other covered professional team.

• Was listed on an NFL or other covered professional roster. 

Actual participation in a regular season professional game is not required under that standard.

Signing a contract or appearing on a professional roster can be enough.

The SEC Says These Are Existing Rules

The SEC argues that it did not create a new rule in August simply to deal with these players.

According to the filing, Sankey’s August 26 memoranda explained how existing SEC bylaws would be enforced when athletes attempt to return to college after entering professional sports.

The conference says this is an application of existing professionalism rules, not the creation of a new eligibility system. 

The SEC Says NCAA Eligibility Is a Separate Question

This is the central legal argument in the filing.

The SEC says it is not trying to determine whether these athletes have NCAA eligibility.

Instead, the conference argues that it can independently regulate what its 16 member schools do.

Near the conclusion of the filing, the SEC states that a court ruling giving an athlete NCAA eligibility does not automatically require a conference to let one of its schools place that athlete on its roster. 

For LSU, that means winning the NCAA eligibility argument may not necessarily end the dispute.

The Penalty Could Hit Lane Kiffin Directly

The most significant part of Exhibit D is the punishment structure.

If an SEC school adds someone the conference considers a professional to its designated roster, the memorandum says the head coach shall be suspended from all coaching, recruiting and administrative duties for 50 percent of the playing season.

The SEC specifically gives football as an example:

Six games or weeks of a 12 game season. 

For LSU football, that would put Lane Kiffin at risk if the conference determined LSU violated the policy.

This is not simply a game day suspension. The written language includes coaching, recruiting and administrative duties.

LSU Could Face a Massive Fine

The SEC also calls for a fine equal to 50 percent of the sport’s annual budget.

The filing does not provide LSU football’s annual budget, so it does not establish an exact dollar amount.

The other specified penalties are:

• Removal of the school’s voting privileges on SEC business.

• Any additional punishment considered appropriate by the commissioner or SEC presidents and chancellors. 

The memorandum does not specifically require automatic forfeiture of games.

LSU Would Not Have to Play the Player

Another important detail is when the SEC says the violation occurs.

The memorandum does not require the athlete to actually play.

It says the penalties apply when a member institution adds someone who has become professional to its designated roster. 

That makes this a roster issue before it becomes a game issue.

The SEC Says It Would Punish the School

The filing repeatedly says the SEC does not intend to punish the plaintiffs themselves under these rules.

Instead, enforcement would be directed at member institutions, university officials, coaches and other athletics personnel. 

That distinction puts the risk directly on LSU and its football program.

A player might receive permission to continue his college career while LSU could still face conference punishment for putting him on the roster.

What the SEC Wants From the Court

The SEC’s request is straightforward.

It wants the court to deny the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction against the conference and Sankey.

It also wants the existing temporary restraining order dissolved to the extent that it prevents the SEC from enforcing its rules. 

In simple terms, the SEC wants the court to recognize that it has separate authority over its member schools.

What LSU Fans Need to Know

The filing establishes four major points.

The SEC believes former professional athletes cannot return to SEC rosters under its existing rules.

The conference believes NCAA eligibility and SEC roster eligibility are separate issues.

The SEC says it would punish the school and coach rather than the athlete.

And the proposed punishment for football is severe: a half season suspension for the head coach, a fine equal to half of the football program’s annual budget, loss of SEC voting privileges and the possibility of additional penalties.

For LSU, that means this is much more than a technical eligibility dispute.

It is a direct fight over whether the SEC can tell LSU who it may place on its football roster and how severely the conference can punish the Tigers if LSU disagrees.

Sources

Southeastern Conference and Commissioner Greg Sankey, “Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Application for Preliminary Injunction,” filed September 2, 2026, Nineteenth Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. 

Greg Sankey, “Application of Existing SEC Bylaws to Athletes who Have Professionalized,” August 26, 2026, Exhibit D.