The Aporia · LSU makes surprise roster decision on former NFL players one day after legal win

LSU makes surprise roster decision on former NFL players one day after legal win

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Battifarano, A. (2026, September 5). LSU makes surprise roster decision on former NFL players one day after legal win. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/09/05/sports/lsu-makes-surprise-roster-decision-on-daequan-wright-zxavian-harris/

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Two former NFL players, Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, have been left off the LSU football roster ahead of their season opener against Clemson. Wright, a tight end who spent time with the Eagles and Browns, and Harris, a defensive lineman who played for the Saints, were deemed eligible to play on Thursday night but were not added to the roster by Friday evening. The two players are part of a larger group suing for a fifth year of eligibility in college athletics, which has led to a dispute between LSU and the SEC over recruitment policies. LSU currently has 103 players on its finalized roster.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-05, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

AI analysis runs on qwen2.5:14b, locally

Story summary

Lane Kiffin's LSU team dominated Clemson 51-10 in their season opener, with Sam Leavitt leading the team to a resounding victory. The game was part of a bigger narrative surrounding Kiffin and his decision not to add two former NFL players, Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, to the roster despite winning a court case that would have allowed them to play.

Kiffin's debut was delayed due to a rain delay, but he and his team were ready when they took the field. LSU had 336 yards of offense compared to Clemson's 54, and Kiffin joked at halftime that it was like having pro players on the team.

The win marked a triumphant start to Kiffin's tenure at LSU, which has been surrounded by controversy in recent weeks. The Tigers' victory parade after the game was attended by thousands of fans, with some comparing the scene to Mardi Gras.

Clemson, on the other hand, struggled to find their footing and was criticized for being complacent against a team that was expected to be a strong contender this season. The loss marks the latest in a series of struggles for Clemson's head coach Dabo Swinney, who has faced criticism for his refusal to adapt to changing circumstances in college football.

In other news, Kiffin's alleged halftime speech from the game against Clemson has leaked, in which he told his players that they are "the most-hated team" in college football and encouraged them to lean into their villainous reputation.

Written for “LSU vs Clemson Football Matchup” on 2026-10-23, grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads leans right and hedges 12% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

LSU destroys Clemson in Lane Kiffin’s debut: ‘Imagine if we had pro players’ same event · 100%

New York Post

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 5% hedged 2 of 37 📰 publisher trust 66

“Both articles mention the LSU vs. Clemson game on Saturday night, with Article A discussing the players who were not added to the roster and Article B reporting on the actual outcome of the game”

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

12%

2 of 17 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

Leans right

of the writing, not the subject · beta estimate

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Andrew Battifarano

39 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 With one second remaining on the clock in the second quarter of “Thursday Night Football” at Soldier Field in Chicago, New England quarterback Drake Maye dumped off a pass to running back Rhamondre Stevenson roughly just one or two yards in the air.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Patriots end ‘TNF’ first half with buzzer-beater 48-yard touchdown in wild scene: ‘Can you believe this?’

🔮 But before he could give his answer on what this game meant, Haliburton had to fight back tears with his hand and a towel. “It means a lot to be back out here,” Haliburton said as he tried to compose himself.

2026-10-22 · assertive framing · Tyrese Haliburton fights back tears in emotional Pacers return after Achilles tear

🔮 tRY IT NOWMcCarthy will make his first start for the Giants on Sunday against the Texans, officially taking things over from Jameis Winston, who had been starting in place of the injured Jaxson Dart.

2026-10-22 · assertive framing · Adam Thielen gets candid about the ‘best thing’ J.J. McCarthy can do for Giants

🔮 One day after the Wolverines remained cagey over who would start at quarterback against Indiana this weekend, ON3 reported Tuesday that Tommy Carr will get the nod and Bryce Underwood — the incumbent — will be the backup.

2026-10-21 · assertive framing · Michigan benching Bryce Underwood for Tommy Carr in $12 million QB shakeup

🔮 “Everybody was taking turns, it would be easy for me to say ‘Hey, Arch was the problem today,'” Sarkisian said.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Steve Sarkisian gets cagey about Arch Manning’s starting job after another ugly Texas loss

🔮 Indiana learned that in maybe the most heartbreaking fashion possible on Saturday afternoon.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Indiana’s 22-game win streak gets snapped by inches in most heartbreaking fashion

🔮 The Broncos might’ve come away with a thrilling win on Thursday, but that didn’t mean their quarterback was beyond reproach.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Ryan Fitzpatrick brutally shreds ‘almost disrespectful’ Bo Nix after another woeful night

🔮 James Cook might be third in the league in rushing, but that doesn’t mean he can abandon his main task for the Bills — holding on to the football.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · Bills coach boldly threatens star James Cook of ‘consequences’ notice as fumble issue persists

🔮 Texas will host Florida, which suffered its own disastrous loss on Saturday to South Carolina, next Saturday.

2026-10-11 · assertive framing · Oklahoma stuns No. 1 Texas in final seconds after Arch Manning throws two fourth-quarter interceptions

🔮 North Carolina, now 3-2 and arguably with the signature win of Belichick’s season and a half at the college level, gave a more standard-fare answer about what the next steps for his football team would be.

2026-10-10 · assertive framing · Bill Belichick is all smiles — and even has jokes — after getting first win over ranked opponent

Also by Andrew Battifarano

Patriots end ‘TNF’ first half with buzzer-beater 48-yard touchdown in wild scene: ‘Can you believe this?’

2026-10-23 · New York Post

Tyrese Haliburton fights back tears in emotional Pacers return after Achilles tear

2026-10-22 · New York Post

Adam Thielen gets candid about the ‘best thing’ J.J. McCarthy can do for Giants

2026-10-22 · New York Post

Michigan benching Bryce Underwood for Tommy Carr in $12 million QB shakeup

2026-10-21 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 39 articles by Andrew Battifarano →

Claims (17 extracted, 2 hedged)

Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris scored a big legal win on Thursday night. asserted

Wright → score → night

The two LSU football players — both of whom spent time with NFL teams this summer — were not added to the Tigers’ roster ahead of the season opener against Clemson, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported. asserted

Thamel → spend → Clemson

LSU had until Friday night to make the decision about whether it would add Wright and Harris for Week 1. asserted

it → have → Week

Thamel added that the players, who are enrolled in Baton Rouge, could still be added to the team later this season. uncertain

who → add → team

LSU has 103 players on its finalized roster ahead of the game at Tiger Stadium. asserted

LSU → have → Stadium

Wright and Harris, who did not appear in any preseason action, were both deemed eligible to play on Thursday night when East Baton Rouge Parish Judge William Jorden issued a preliminary injunction in their favor. asserted

Jorden → appear → favor

Wright, a tight end who spent time in training camp with the Eagles and Browns, and Wright, a defensive lineman who was with the Saints earlier this summer, are among the 40-plus athletes who have sued to gain a fifth year of eligibility in college athletics. asserted

who → spend → athletics

Before Jorden’s injunction, the SEC filed a lawsuit in Alabama against LSU, athletic director Verge Ausberry and head coach Lane Kiffin, alleging that they “waged a deliberate and coordinated campaign to recruit professional athletes.” asserted

they → file → athletes

The SEC, in a statement after the injunction, said it disagreed with the ruling. asserted

it → say → ruling

“The SEC’s Presidents and Chancellors unanimously adopted a clear and reasonable standard: member universities should not place former professional athletes on their rosters,” the conference wrote. asserted

conference → adopt → rosters

“The Conference and its member universities have the right to establish, through agreed-upon governance procedures, the rules under which they voluntarily compete and to expect those rules to be followed.” asserted

rules → have → which

Yahoo Sports reported on Friday that Clemson notified that LSU could be breaking “contractual obligations between the two parties” if it allowed the two former NFL players to suit up for the game. uncertain

players → report → game

However, Clemson was still planning to play the game and was not seeking any legal avenues. asserted

Clemson → plan → avenues

The Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 have joined the SEC in seeking to ban former NFL players from returning to college football. asserted

Ten → join → football

The Big 12 went a step further, saying it would bar any professional athletes from competing in any sport. asserted

it → go → sport

Wright and Harris both played at Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin, who is coaching his first game with LSU on Saturday. asserted

who → play → Saturday

Whether they play for him again at the college level remains to be seen. asserted

play → play → level

LSU makes surprise roster decision on former NFL players one day after legal win

Quick Summary

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Claims (17 extracted, 2 hedged)