LSU blasts SEC legal filing as 'hallucinated' as RJ Luis eligibility fight escalates - USA Today
Way back on Sept. 10, 2026, the Southeastern Conference – after a video meeting of its membership’s leaders as well as SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey – regarding LSU’s status in the league issued a statement that said ... nothing.
The league was taking no action, even as leadership from SEC stakeholders told USA TODAY Sports that they favored at least a suspension of Lane Kiffin as LSU fought to roster football players who over the summer had been in NFL training camps.
LSU, however, is seeking action. It also is continuing in its eligibility battles with the SEC, as on Wednesday, Oct. 28, multiple media outlets reported that East Baton Rouge Parish District Court Judge Ronald R. Johnson granted an injunction that precludes the SEC, or LSU, for that matter, from penalizing Will Wade’s basketball program for rostering RJ Luis, a player that was undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft but spent time with the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics, though he did not appear in a game.
The SEC did not have comment on the Luis injunction at time of publication after USA TODAY Sports sought comment.
The NCAA, however, in a statement direct to USA TODAY Sports did not lack for clarity.
"Common sense eligibility rules are intended to ensure college students play college sports, not professional athletes looking for a fallback-option," said the NCAA, which also noted an astounding 288 eligibility lawsuits have been filed since 2024 and 850 plaintiffs seeking relief to obtain an additional year of eligibility. "These cases tilt the playing field in favor of one individual or one team — to the detriment of other would-be student-athletes and teams that play by the rules — and are exactly why the House should pass the bipartisan (Protect College Sports Act) to set nationwide standards ensuring college students get a fair opportunity to compete for a national championship - not professional athletes.”
And, LSU leadership hardly backing down in this ongoing bayou battle, per explosive language in new court filings from mid-October and obtained by USA TODAY Sports, including a legal brief that says the SEC either has acted “negligently … or hallucinated.”
LSU leadership wants the SEC’s pending case in the U.S. Northern District Court of Alabama – Southeastern Conference vs. Wade Rousse, LSU President, et. Al – to be dismissed. Barring any additional legal maneuverings, the two sides are due back in Birmingham court for that proceeding on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
In their October 20 reply brief, the defendants wrote that “key SEC citations ... appear to be negligently supplied or hallucinated.” The SEC’s opposition brief had disclosed that it was prepared with the assistance of an AI tool. Counsel certified that they independently reviewed it.
“The accusation targets three cases cited in footnote 2 of the SEC’s opposition: Association for Molecular Pathology v. USPTO, Great Western United Corp. v. Kidwell, and PTI, Inc. v. Philip Morris. The SEC cited them for the proposition that, when state officials are sued in their official capacities, a court looks to the forum contacts of the government entity they represent,” attorney Ryan Regula, partner at Snell & Wilmer who has worked closely with universities throughout the United States and individual athletes, told USA TODAY Sports. “The defendants argue the cases actually focus on the officials’ own contacts.
“Importantly, the defendants do not claim any of these cases is fake or that any quotation was made up. The SEC responded with a case-by-case defense. Interestingly, the SEC also showed that the defendants’ own quotation from Molecular Pathology left off the end of a key sentence.”
As Regula noted to USA TODAY Sports, LSU (defendants) wrote to the SEC that it was not attempting to accuse the SEC legal team of “acting in bad faith” and “they have said they are not seeking sanctions, which is a clear walk back.”
Regula noted that the “hallucinated” term has previously denoted sharp legal standing.
“The word “hallucinated” carries real weight in this courthouse,” Regula said. “In Johnson v. Dunn (2025), Judge Anna Manasco of the same district addressed ChatGPT-generated citations that were nonexistent or did not support what they were cited for.
“She publicly reprimanded three attorneys, disqualified them from the case, and referred them to the Alabama State Bar. Federal appeals courts in 2026 have also imposed fines, suspensions, and removal from cases. They have repeatedly emphasized that a lawyer’s candor once errors are discovered affects the outcome.”
Standing. This is LSU’s strongest argument. The SEC concedes it can expel LSU whenever it wants, so any “forced association” is arguably the SEC’s own choice. The SEC now frames its injury as the threat that LSU will go to court to block a future expulsion vote. But no vote is scheduled, and the SEC withdrew its request for emergency relief because, in its words, none is needed at this time.
Mootness. The SEC has the better of this narrow argument. LSU kept the two football players off its roster and did not interfere with the September 10 meeting. But LSU has made no formal commitment about future conduct, and defendants carry a heavy burden when they claim to have stopped the challenged behavior.
Ripeness. This favors LSU, for largely the same reasons as standing.
Personal jurisdiction. LSU’s position is relatively strong as to the board members and the attorney general, who have few or no Alabama contacts of their own. The president, athletic director, and coach regularly attend SEC meetings in Birmingham, so the question is closer for them. A transfer to Louisiana is a realistic middle-ground outcome.”
While the next scheduled court date is less than three weeks away, LSU likely will have to tip its hand on how ardently it plans to fight for the eligibility of Luis Jr. The Tigers open their 2026-27 men's basketball season Nov. 3 and have four games scheduled before the Nov. 18 court date.
Coincidentally, they also have game the night of Nov. 18 – at home against Louisiana-Monroe.
