LSU · SECJudge clears Dae'Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris to return to LSU
The temporary injunction clears both former NFL players, but the SEC’s response remains unknown.
SEP 4, 2026
The Pate State · Editorial IllustrationA judge granted an injunction Thursday evening, Sept. 3, clearing LSU players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to return to college football after brief NFL stints.
The order gives both players temporary clearance without resolving the eligibility dispute. The SEC’s response and the injunction’s duration remain unknown.
The ruling puts LSU’s immediate roster plans and eligibility fight in play before a schedule that sends the Tigers to Ole Miss on Sept. 19.
LSU went 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the SEC last season and starts 2026 ranked No. 11 in the AP poll and No. 13 in the coaches poll. Josh Pate’s preseason bracket projects the Tigers as the No. 8 College Football Playoff team, raising the stakes of a decision that could affect LSU’s postseason path.
For Wright and Harris, the college door is open again — at least for now.
01 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The practical distinction is between clearance for Clemson and availability for LSU’s SEC run. The Sept. 3 order came two days before the Sept. 5 opener, but LSU reaches Ole Miss on Sept. 19 and Texas A&M on Sept. 26, followed by three more SEC games from Oct. 10 through Oct. 24. A team coming off three conference wins has five SEC dates in that span, so the order’s duration can outweigh its immediate effect.
LSU also has no usage answer to pair with the legal one. The first lineup and snap distribution will show whether Wright and Harris alter the Clemson plan or simply become options for later games.
02 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Will Dae'Quan Wright or Zxavian Harris play against Clemson on Saturday, Sept. 5?
The opener arrives two days after the order, making it the first test of whether clearance becomes immediate roster help. LSU has not identified either player’s role or said whether either will appear. The lineup and snap count against Clemson will show whether the ruling changed the opener or merely expanded LSU’s choices before Louisiana Tech on Sept. 12 and Ole Miss on Sept. 19.
Will the SEC challenge the injunction before LSU visits Ole Miss on Sept. 19?
A challenge could reopen the players’ status as LSU enters conference play, with Texas A&M following on Sept. 26 and three more SEC games scheduled from Oct. 10 through Oct. 24. The SEC’s formal response and any later court order are the tells. They will establish whether the Sept. 3 clearance extends across those SEC dates or proves relevant mainly to the opening portion of the schedule.