Georgia AG to SEC: Oust LSU if Kiffin plays pros

• Mark Schlabach

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  Mark Schlabach

  ESPN Senior Writer

  • Senior college football writer
  • Author of seven books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia
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Sep 2, 2026, 04:47 PM ET

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is encouraging SEC commissioner Greg Sankey to take "all measures available," including suspending and/or removing LSU from the conference, if the Tigers elect to roster former NFL players this season.

In a letter to Sankey on Wednesday, Carr wrote that his office is prepared to "use all legal means necessary to protect the University of Georgia, student athletes, and the integrity of college athletics."

"College athletics are for college athletes only, and we are grateful the SEC has taken swift action to maintain that standard," Carr wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN. "However, the rules cannot be ignored or twisted to benefit one coach, one institution, or one program, and we refuse to stand by while that happens."

The letter was sent a day before a scheduled preliminary injunction hearing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Louisiana state court Judge William Jorden ruled Friday that the SEC and Sankey are not allowed to punish member schools if they play a college football player who returns to campus after signing a contract with NFL teams this summer.

Jorden's ruling prohibits the SEC from enforcing a new rule adopted by the league last week, which threatens schools with stiff penalties for using former NFL players, including a half-season suspension for coaches, a fine that matches 50% of the sport's annual budget and revocation of league voting rights.

The SEC took action after former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris announced plans to join their former coach, Lane Kiffin, at LSU after leaving NFL training camps.

The judge had previously issued a temporary restraining order, which prohibits the NCAA from declaring Wright and Harris ineligible under its new five-for-five rule.

"The substance and scope of those orders obviously raise serious legal concerns," Carr said of the Louisiana state court rulings. "However, the more immediate concern is that after the temporary orders took effect, one of the SEC's member institutions, Louisiana State University (LSU), indicated its plans to ignore the Conference policy by opting to roster one or more pro athletes this season.

"It is no coincidence that the very institution set to potentially use this temporary order to flout the SEC's rule is in the trial court's own backyard."

The SEC declined comment.

Carr encouraged the SEC "to take all measures available to address this conduct, up to and including suspension and/or removing LSU from the Conference."

"Conference members have the freedom to associate with institutions committed to following NCAA and Conference rules," Carr wrote. "No institution should be allowed to ignore the obligations of Conference membership while continuing to receive the benefits of membership."

During Wednesday's SEC coaches conference call, Kiffin noted that the lawsuit involves "a lot of athletes from a lot of different sports in a lot of different states."

"We put any energy into it," Kiffin said. "We'll wait to get more information tomorrow and more guidance from the SEC."