Judge William Jorden granted a preliminary injunction to several athletes on Thursday evening, including a couple of big names that LSU football plans to add to its roster.
Former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Smith and former Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris each got one step closer to playing for LSU. Smith and Harris seek to return to college after spending part of the Summer with NFL franchises. Both players were undrafted in 2026 and waived by NFL teams.
Wright and Harris have each played four seasons of college football. Harris spent all four with Ole Miss, while Wright spent two at Virginia Tech and two at Ole Miss.
In June of 2026, the NCAA announced athletes from the class of 2023 onward would get five years of eligibility. That
left out the class of 2022 and several players from that class filed suit against the NCAA. Back-and-forth legal battles have allowed some players from the class of 2022 to gain a fifth year of eligibility.
But the cases of Wright and Harris were complicated. Most of the sport opposes players returning to college after signing a professional contract.
Breaking: Judge William Jorden officially grants plaintiffs a preliminary injunction in Louisiana case involving NCAA, and SEC.
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace) September 4, 2026
The athletes are free to be rostered by schools.
LSU has been enjoined in the case, protecting them, based on named defendants (SEC)
For now, the preliminary injunction clears the way for Wright and Harris, though LSU still has to officially add the players to the roster. Final rosters are due Friday, one day before LSU's season opener vs. Clemson.
The battle isn't over yet, though. The SEC and NCAA are expected to appeal.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football players get massive legal win vs NCAA and SEC
