The SEC has already drawn its line on former professional athletes returning to college. Attorney Tom Mars believes the next phase of the fight will be drawn on court dockets, and he does not see much mystery in how the conference is likely to proceed.
Mars, a veteran college-sports attorney who has handled major NCAA eligibility cases, weighed in as LSU and players including Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris remain caught between Louisiana court relief and the SEC’s newly adopted ban on former professionals competing for conference schools.
Tom Mars Maps Out SEC’s Likely Legal Counterpunch
“The @SEC legal strategy seems blindingly obvious,” Mars wrote in an X post.
The @SEC legal strategy seems blindingly obvious. The Conference will take action either in federal court or by appealing and asking the state appeals courts to stay whatever lower court injunctions have been issued in favor of former NFL players – or, more likely, they’ll do… https://t.co/Z6lynhB8nr
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) August 27, 2026
He said the conference could respond in two forums. One route would involve federal court. The other would be appealing state-court rulings and asking appellate courts to pause injunctions favoring former NFL players while those appeals proceed.
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That forecast aligns with another point Mars made this week. If LSU or the affected players push back, he expects the SEC could pursue a federal lawsuit similar to the Big 12’s handling of the Brendan Sorsby dispute.
After a Texas state judge temporarily blocked the NCAA from keeping Sorsby off Texas Tech’s 2026 roster, the Big 12 filed a federal lawsuit asserting its right to sanction member schools under conference rules if the quarterback played.
Mars believes the SEC could attempt a similar approach rather than treating Louisiana injunctions as the final word.
LSU’s Eligibility Fight Has Become a Conference Power Test
The SEC’s new policy bars athletes who signed professional contracts, appeared on specified professional rosters, or entered certain drafts without proper withdrawal.
This directly impacts LSU’s plans for Wright and Harris, former Ole Miss players who spent time in NFL organizations before seeking a return to college football.
The league then approved severe penalties for violations, including a possible suspension covering half a head coach’s season and a fine equal to 50% of that sport’s operating budget. LSU was the sole abstention when the penalty structure passed 15-0.
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Attorneys for the affected players argue that the Louisiana injunctions extend to conference policies, while Mars has rejected claims that the SEC is already in contempt.
His assessment is legal analysis, not inside reporting that Greg Sankey has authorized a lawsuit or appeal. At the moment, the SEC has not publicly announced either action.
