The Southeastern Conference is pressing ahead with its lawsuit against Louisiana State University, arguing that the school’s recent roster decisions do not make the dispute moot. The case is being heard in federal court in Alabama, according to the source report.
The SEC’s filing says LSU has continued to test conference rules concerning athletes with professional experience. The conference pointed to former NBA player RJ Luis Jr., whom LSU has recruited and allowed to practice, while noting that he has not been placed on the team roster. The SEC says LSU has not definitively ruled out adding him.
LSU basketball coach Will Wade said Tuesday that the program would follow SEC protocols. He also said Luis had not traveled with the team and had not been rostered. The report says LSU’s final roster deadline is still several weeks away.
The lawsuit also concerns LSU football and two players, Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who received a Louisiana court order allowing them to play after professional football experience. LSU later left both off its roster. The SEC argues that this decision does not erase its claims or its concerns about the school using state-court orders to block conference enforcement.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill rejected the SEC’s position, saying LSU had violated no rules and urging dismissal of the lawsuit. The dispute follows broader litigation over college-athlete eligibility and conference rules for athletes with professional backgrounds.
A judge has not yet ruled on whether the SEC’s case will proceed. The allegations and legal positions described here are claims by the parties, not findings by the court.
