LSU’s roster decision this week became the defining off-field story for the Tigers when Lane Kiffin finalized a 105-man list that excluded Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, narrowing an immediate clash with the conference. The move matters because it reduces short-term risk to LSU while leaving major eligibility and legal questions unresolved.
Reporting from CBS Sports states Wright and Harris were not added to LSU’s final roster and that Aidan Anding and Gabriel Reliford were the final two names submitted. That sequence effectively locked the roster for the 2026 season and removed immediate speculation that LSU would defy conference policy at the deadline.
Key Takeaways
- Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris were not added to LSU’s 105-man roster, reducing an immediate roster clash with the SEC.
- A Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily cleared the two former professionals to play while litigation proceeds.
- The SEC filed a federal lawsuit that preserves its challenge to the players’ eligibility and maintains potential enforcement options.
- Aidan Anding and Gabriel Reliford were added as the final roster entries, filling the last open spots with campus players.
Kiffin’s roster decision and program calculations
Lane Kiffin framed the roster call as a difficult, program-level decision rather than an outright surrender to conference pressure.
He said he felt for the players and emphasized making a decision that served the best interests of the team and the university while the program continues to pursue legal avenues.
Operationally, LSU filled the two open spots on the 105-man list with Aidan Anding and Gabriel Reliford, both players already on campus and not targeted by the conference’s penalties.
That pragmatic roster construction removed the immediate risk of conference action affecting week-to-week availability while preserving LSU’s ability to keep litigating broader eligibility questions in court.
Legal and roster timeline context
| Event | Immediate effect |
|---|---|
| Louisiana judge grants preliminary injunction for Wright and Harris | The ruling temporarily cleared the two former professionals to play and created a parallel legal pathway outside SEC enforcement |
| SEC files federal lawsuit after passing penalties with LSU abstaining | The conference preserved its authority to challenge eligibility decisions and signaled potential sanctions for programs that roster former professionals |
| LSU finalizes 105-man roster without adding Wright and Harris | Excluding the two former NFL players at the deadline reduced an immediate policy clash while the larger litigation continues |
SEC enforcement and roster construction implications
Passing on adding the former NFL players stabilizes LSU’s 105-man roster against immediate conference penalties while legal questions remain unresolved.
The dispute highlights enforcement tensions that programs, recruits, and staff will monitor as the conference pursues its lawsuit and potential sanctions.
