One of the main problems facing power-conference college sports is NCAA member schools—and particularly coaches—urging and incentivizing ineligible players to sue for court orders blocking the NCAA and conferences from enforcing eligibility rules.
The SEC on Thursday took an aggressive step to combat that problem by suing LSU, LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin and others in an Alabama federal court. The SEC seeks an injunction to stop LSU from engaging in conduct contrary to the conference’s “purpose and mission.”
This is particularly notable given the college football season starts in full this weekend; games are taking place on Thursday night, and LSU is playing a high-profile matchup against Clemson on Saturday night.
This isn’t the first time in 2026 that a power conference has sued a member school over the school’s plan to play an ineligible player.
In June, the Big 12 sued Texas Tech and others over the Red Raiders’ intention to play quarterback Brendan Sorsby in 2026. The NCAA had disqualified Sorsby for violating anti-gambling rules, and the Big 12 also regarded him as ineligible. But a Texas state judge granted Sorsby an injunction allowing him to play.
