Judge William Jorden issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday prohibiting the NCAA and SEC from punishing schools that add former NFL players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to their rosters. ^[1] Louisiana district court judge William Jorden approved a preliminary injunction on Thursday allowing LSU to add tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris to its roster after their brief stints in the NFL. ^[2] The SEC confirmed in a statement that it will appeal a court injunction allowing two former NFL players to sign with LSU. ^[3] The Southeastern Conference (SEC) filed a federal lawsuit in Alabama on September 4, 2026, against LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin. ^[4] Former Ole Miss players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, along with 40 others, are suing the NCAA to play a fifth and final season of college sports after signing professional contracts. ^[5] The SEC plans to file an appeal of Judge Jorden's decision as soon as possible and filed a separate lawsuit against LSU and Lane Kiffin in Alabama to enforce new punishments. ^[6] The SEC reaffirmed a rule last week allowing its commissioner Greg Sankey to suspend a team's coach for half of the season and levy fines reaching tens of millions of dollars if the school adds a former pro player. ^[7] The SEC passed a rule last week that permitted commissioner Greg Sankey to punish any school that added players who signed NFL contracts to its roster, prescribing a half-season suspension of the head coach and a fine of half of the school's athletic budget. ^[8] Wright and Harris were among 42 athletes across multiple sports granted an additional year of eligibility in the wake of the NCAA's pivot to a new 5-for-5 eligibility system. ^[9] Former Ole Miss players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris have joined coach Lane Kiffin at LSU in Baton Rouge and have been practicing with the team since being waived out of NFL training camps. ^[10] The SEC stated that its presidents and chancellors unanimously adopted a standard that member universities should not place former professional athletes on their rosters. ^[11] The ruling clears the path for more than 40 athletes currently suing the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility to return to college football. ^[12]