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September 11, 2026

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Earlier this week, the SEC said in court documents that it would vote on whether to kick LSU out of the conference for attempting to field players who had signed NFL contracts. But after a meeting of school officials on Thursday, the SEC released a statement that didn’t even mention LSU. Although the school appears to have avoided expulsion, the SEC left the door open for sanctions.

—Amanda Christovich

First Up

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Kirk Herbstreit tells Front Office Sports that content creators are helping college football programs stay relevant.
Military-style workouts have become part of college sports training sessions—with sometimes dangerous results.
Kate Koval, the Ukrainian center who left the LSU women’s basketball team after it signed a Russian player, received a waiver to enter the transfer portal.

SEC-LSU Cold War Thaws, but LSU Could Still Face Sanctions

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Over the past 24 hours, LSU has surrendered its position against the SEC over signing players previously listed on NFL preseason rosters. In doing so, LSU appears to have avoided the nuclear option the conference threatened earlier this week: expelling the Tigers from the conference altogether. But the terms of LSU’s surrender have not been finalized.

The SEC was scheduled to hold a call of university presidents on Thursday that, according to court documents, would include a vote on whether to kick LSU out of the conference. But that day, the SEC released a statement at the conclusion of the virtual gathering without mentioning any specific penalties against LSU. The conference did not confirm whether a formal vote took place, but the implication is that LSU will remain a member of the conference while the SEC continues to consider sanctions.

“The presidents and chancellors of the Southeastern Conference met Thursday by videoconference to discuss recent matters involving conference expectations and responsibilities,” the SEC said. “Those discussions will continue as the conference and its member universities work toward an appropriate resolution.”

The ongoing dispute has been the focus of the college sports world as the SEC attempts to answer an existential question: whether a conference can successfully and legally enforce rules against member schools. The answer to that question has never been more important to administrators, given that the NCAA has been hamstrung by lawsuits and Congress may not have time (or enough support) to pass the Protect College Sports Act.

For the past two weeks, LSU and the SEC have been engaged in an escalating conflict over Wright and Harris. The two athletes, along with many others, filed a lawsuit in Louisiana state court in August seeking a fifth year of NCAA eligibility. Though the lawsuit was one of dozens around the country, it made waves because Wright and Harris had signed NFL preseason contracts and appeared on NFL rosters. LSU scooped them up.

The SEC, along with other conferences, announced a professional player ban in an attempt to stop them. But neither LSU nor the players backed down—last week, the players won an injunction that protected them from both the wrath of the SEC and the NCAA. But the SEC sued LSU in federal court, asking for a judge to rule the league could legally impose penalties on LSU.

Because of the uncertainty, LSU coach Lane Kiffin chose not to roster the two players for the Week 1 matchup against Clemson. But the SEC wasn’t satisfied—the league escalated its legal fight on Tuesday, filing an amended complaint that said it would vote on Thursday to expel LSU from the conference.

On Tuesday night, LSU chose to add two other players to its roster, meaning Harris and Wright wouldn’t make the cut. Then, on Wednesday, LSU president Wade Rousse sent a letter to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey confirming the Tigers did not intend to roster Wright and Harris at all this season. A hearing in the SEC’s lawsuit against LSU was postponed.

The conference did not confirm whether a formal vote—or informal discussion—took place Thursday regarding expelling LSU. But no penalties were specified in Thursday’s post-meeting statement, suggesting no decision has been made.

Now, instead of kicking LSU out of the conference, the SEC will consider penalties to assign its rogue member. For example, the conference’s presidents had previously authorized commissioner Greg Sankey to impose a suspension of any head coach for 50% of the season, a fine worth 50% of the sport’s operating budget, and revocation of SEC voting rights.

Meanwhile, the SEC has not confirmed whether it will continue to pursue its lawsuit against LSU.

A university spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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ONE BIG FIG

Sold Out Down Under

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100,021

That’s the announced attendance at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for Thursday night’s sold-out NFL game between the 49ers and Rams. (The game was played Friday morning local time.) The matchup between the Super Bowl favorite Rams and their intrastate rivals was the first NFL regular season game ever played in Australia. It was also the first of nine international games scheduled to be played this season—the most in league history.

MCG, which is the largest stadium in the Southern hemisphere, is most associated with cricket, but four Australian rules football teams also play home games there, and it is frequently used for other sports events. Its capacity dwarfs that of NFL stadiums in the U.S.; MetLife Stadium, home to both the Giants and Jets, has the largest official capacity at 82,500. Still, Thursday’s game was only the seventh-largest attendance in regular season history. The record is 105,121. That mark was set in 2009 at Cowboys Stadium (now AT&T Stadium) when Dallas hosted the Giants.

DAILY SPORTS TRIVIA

Can you rank the top five highest-paid college football coaches this season?

LOUD AND CLEAR

Flyers Redo Rendering

Populous

“Hockey is for boys and boys only.”

—Hockey podcaster Katelynn Reiss on X/Twitter reacting to a rendering of the new South Philadelphia arena for the Flyers and 76ers, which is expected to be ready by 2030. The rendering, which the 76ers and Flyers shared in a press release on Tuesday, depicts fans in Flyers gear and colors approaching the arena. But female fans seem to be mostly absent from the rendering. Some online commenters noticed. “Ah yes, 2030 when women are no longer able to attend sporting events,” remarked one. Another pointed out there are two women in the rendering, but they are wearing shorts and warm-weather clothes instead of team gear: “Because that’s typical female apparel for ice hockey.”

The website for the new project has since published an updated rendering showing men and women entering the arena together.

FRONT OFFICE SPORTS LIVE

Taylor Rooks Takes the Tuned In Stage

As a feature reporter for Prime Video’s Emmy Award–winning Thursday Night Football (TNF) and host of NBA on Prime, Taylor Rooks has built a reputation for thoughtful, candid conversations that reveal the stories behind the biggest names and moments in sports. Since joining Prime Video in 2022, she has been part of the platform’s evolution into a major force in sports media—including a record-setting 2025 TNF season that averaged more than 15 million viewers.

From her seven years at TNT Sports and Bleacher Report to her distinctive long-form interview style, Rooks has consistently found new ways to connect with audiences across platforms.

Hear from Taylor Rooks next month at Tuned In as she shares her perspective on the future of sports broadcasting, the art of the interview, and building authentic connections with fans.

Reserve your seat now.