'They Are Unserious,' Lane Kiffin's LSU Ripped by SEC Insider After Trying to Roster Ex-NFL Players

In the wake of head coach Lane Kiffin and LSU's attempts to add former NFL players to its roster for the 2026 season, people in the SEC don't have many kind things to say about the program right now.

One SEC administrator told ESPN's Dan Wetzel "they are unserious" when describing LSU.

"It's impossible to deal with LSU right now," the administrator added.

Kiffin and the Tigers came under scrutiny from the SEC and NCAA for recruiting tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris. Both of whom spent the summer on NFL rosters before being waived in August.

Neither player was on the active roster for LSU's season-opening win over Clemson. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Tuesday that Kiffin locked the Tigers' roster for the remainder of the season by adding two players, with Wright and Harris not making the cut.

The move came after the SEC had scheduled a vote of the conference presidents about potentially expelling LSU. Wetzel noted the chances of that happening are "essentially zero."

Even though Kiffin's attempts to add former pro players to the LSU roster were at the center of the divide between the program and SEC, Wetzel wrote the Tigers are seen as "forever pushing the envelope" between Kiffin and men's basketball coach Will Wade.

"Who is in charge there?" one SEC administrator told Wetzel. "And how do you ever trust them?"

Kiffin is in his first season at LSU after being hired in November following a six-year stint at Mississippi.

Amidst all of the roster controversy, Kiffin and the Tigers had a strong start to the season with an impressive 51-10 win over Clemson. LSU will play Louisiana Tech on Saturday before returning to Vaught–Hemingway Stadium for a much-anticipated showdown with Ole Miss on Sept. 19.