LSU may avoid expulsion, but some in SEC want Lane Kiffin to pay a price

While the SEC's scheduled hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama was indefinitely postponed Wednesday, Sept. 9, conference leaders are still expected to proceed with Thursday's meeting involving key stakeholders from at least 15 member institutions.

Whether LSU representatives will participate remains unclear. What does appear increasingly clear, however, is the SEC is no longer seriously considering expelling LSU, a founding member of the conference since 1933, according to one SEC executive with direct knowledge of the situation and three high-ranking football officials at SEC schools familiar with the discussions who spoke to USA TODAY Sports.

LSU adding two players to its roster late Tuesday night is viewed by SEC headquarters as a productive step toward deescalation. LSU filled its final two roster spots with Aiden Anding and Gabriel Reliford, effectively ending any possibility of adding former NFL signees Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris.

LSU President Wade Rousse also sent a letter Wednesday to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, obtained by USA TODAY Sports, citing the roster moves and affirming the university's intention not to interfere with Thursday's conference meeting.

That does not mean LSU is out of danger.

Conference officials still may vote to impose sanctions on the athletic department and potentially discipline individuals involved in the dispute. The SEC football officials emphasized to USA TODAY Sports the issue extends beyond Lane Kiffin and the football program. LSU men's basketball coach Will Wade has also explored adding former professional players, including R.J. Luis Jr., raising concerns among conference leaders about broader compliance issues within the athletic department.

A senior SEC football administrator said conference leaders believe some form of punishment remains necessary.

"They (LSU officials) are worried," the individual said, granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the SEC's ongoing legal battle. "They're in the dark and not sure what's coming (from the SEC)."

The administrator questioned whether LSU's leadership can quickly repair the damage done to its standing within the conference.

"My biggest thing is, if you're (LSU's administration) how can you ever fix this? You've lost control and harmed your reputation. Same for the president (Wade Rousse). I've talked to a couple of other ADs. I hope they'll suspend Lane. If not, he won't feel it and won't care."

Not everyone agrees on the severity of the punishment.

"(Lane) obviously shouldn't have gone against the SEC like he did; bad look. (But) he loves the attention," another upper-level SEC football supervisor told USA TODAY Sports. "I am just glad they're not taking it further. You could argue Lane should be suspended for two SEC games, but I ain't standing on the table for it."

Several SEC officials pointed to the Big Ten's handling of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh in 2023 as a potential model.

"The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh from the Ohio State game," the person said. "I think that can be done (for LSU's Sept. 19 game at Ole Miss)."

The SEC's amended court filing Tuesday sought to preserve the conference's authority to discipline LSU, both institutionally and individually. In the filing, the conference argued that continued association with LSU could cause "irreparable harm" if it could not distance itself from conduct it believes runs counter to the league's values.

Meanwhile, conference officials also have discussed significant financial penalties.

Under SEC bylaws, fines can reach up to 50% of a sport's operating budget. LSU's football budget exceeded $50 million during the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to documents reviewed by USA TODAY Sports.

"They talked about if you rostered them (the players who last month were NFL camps)," an SEC football official said, noting Wright and Harris practiced with Kiffin's LSU squad, "it's a big fine. I don't see a problem with that (being applied)."

One official from an SEC member institution summarized the prevailing sentiment succinctly:

"The feeling is they can't let LSU start the fire," the executive said, "then say we're sorry."

Click here to read article