Add Paul Finebaum to the list of folks against the LSU Tigers bringing back several players from the National Football League.
In one of the hottest debates of the offseason, LSU appears to have — at least for now — won the legal battle to add to their roster players who spent training camp with NFL teams. While the SEC has indeed filed a lawsuit against the school and Lane Kiffin himself, the fight is now running in two courthouses in two states.
During an appearance with CBS Evening News, Finebaum did not mince words when asked about the enormity of this dispute.
Just days before the first week of the college football season, a judge is set to rule on whether former professional football players can return to campus and play football. pic.twitter.com/s8MfEqrOmt
— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) September 4, 2026
“I have never seen a moment like this,” Finebaum said when asked to describe just how significant this situation is.
“We literally have one school as part of a 16 school league who is spitting in the face of the commissioner and the league…Here we are on the eve of the season and we’re talking about federal lawsuits and state lawsuits.”
Finebaum went further Friday morning on ESPN’s “Get Up,” saying he cannot believe Kiffin would put his career on the line by “spitting in the face of the SEC, and in particular Greg Sankey” after Sankey helped Kiffin through the rough stretches of his career. His prediction: “I believe at the end of this day, Kiffin will back down.”
With the season set to start this weekend, tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris as of Friday each are eligible to play for LSU if added to the roster in time, and by the sounds of it, that is the expectation. Both told ESPN’s Pete Thamel they expect to be added before Friday night’s deadline.
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The SEC’s lawyers say they will appeal the Louisiana ruling as soon as possible, and the conference’s federal case against LSU will be heard by U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon.
The fallout between the SEC and LSU remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say this story is not going away anytime soon.
It remains to be seen the results of the fall out between the SEC and LSU, but it’s safe to say this story is not going away anytime soon.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
