Lane Kiffin Turned to Chatgpt for Legal Guidance in LSU Case

WHO:

Fox News - Attorney Tom Mars stated, "Usually, when I would express an opinion about what LSU was doing, Lane would reply with a screenshot from ChatGPT that supported LSU's position, which was almost always wrong."

ESPN - Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry commented, "They're not professional players. I mean, it's ridiculous."

Fox News - Lane Kiffin, head coach of LSU; Tom Mars, attorney and friend of Kiffin; Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, former Ole Miss players.

ESPN - Greg Sankey, SEC commissioner; Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry; Ryan Downton and Tony Clayton, attorneys representing the players; Liz Murrill, Louisiana attorney general.

WHAT:

Fox News - Attorney Tom Mars stated, "Eventually, I told him that a guy with a $91 million contract ought to have a top-notch lawyer on speed dial and not be using ChatGPT for legal advice."

ESPN - The SEC filed a federal lawsuit against LSU in Alabama on the same day Greg Sankey was testifying in state court in Baton Rouge.

ESPN - The SEC's amended lawsuit revealed that it had scheduled a vote of the conference presidents on whether to expel LSU from the league.

ESPN - The SEC's legal team included Jason Williams, the current district attorney of Orleans Parish.

ESPN - Judge William Jorden stated he was "very, very skeptical" that the players' attorneys would be able to prove they had the legal standing to show either the NCAA or SEC had breached a contract.

ESPN - The NCAA's new rules manual for the 2026-27 school year stated that as of August 1, any athlete who was within five years of finishing high school or their 19th birthday was eligible to play five seasons of college sports.

ESPN - The plaintiffs' attorneys argued that the NCAA's and SEC's attempt to bar athletes from playing due to the NCAA's errors in rulemaking does not foster anyone's well-being.

ESPN - The SEC commissioner Greg Sankey earned $4.8 million last year.

ESPN - The SEC had threatened to impose penalties, including a fine equal to 50% of the sport's annual operating budget and a half-season suspension for Kiffin if LSU rostered former NFL players.

ESPN - Judge William Jorden granted a temporary restraining order allowing Wright, Harris, and about 30 other athletes to return to college for one more season.

Fox News - Kiffin attempted to add Wright and Harris to the LSU roster, which led to a legal standoff with the SEC.

ESPN - The SEC threatened penalties, including a fine equal to 50% of the sport's annual operating budget and a half-season suspension for Kiffin.

ESPN - Wright and Harris obtained a preliminary injunction from a Louisiana state court allowing them to play this season, but LSU ultimately chose not to add them to the roster.

ESPN - The SEC filed a federal lawsuit against LSU in Alabama and scheduled a vote of its member university presidents to consider expelling LSU from the league.

ESPN - Kiffin's contract is valued at $91 million.

WHERE:

Fox News - Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Tiger Stadium.

ESPN - Baton Rouge courtroom; Birmingham, Alabama; Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi.

WHEN:

ESPN - A federal court hearing in the U.S. District Court in Birmingham was continued the day after the SEC filed its amended lawsuit.

ESPN - A hearing in Baton Rouge occurred on September 3, 2026.

ESPN - A temporary restraining order was granted on August 19, 2026.

ESPN - The SEC filed an amended complaint in federal court on September 8, 2026.

ESPN - Kiffin's debut as LSU's coach was on September 5, 2026.

WHY:

ESPN - The players' attorneys argued that the NCAA's new rules allowed them to claim eligibility for an additional season, stating, "This Court will not allow the NCAA to punish these Plaintiffs for its poor planning and errors in rulemaking."

Fox News - Kiffin believed he could justify adding pro players based on legal opinions from ChatGPT.

ESPN - The SEC aimed to set a precedent for self-governance and enforce its own rules regarding former professional athletes returning to college sports.

HOW:

ESPN - The players' legal team included Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill, who filed an amicus brief supporting the players the night before the hearing.

Fox News - Kiffin used ChatGPT to support his legal position regarding the addition of Wright and Harris.

ESPN - The players' legal team argued that the NCAA's new rules allowed them to claim eligibility for an additional season.

(UPDATED September 18, 2026 02:09 UTC)

In a significant legal development, the SEC has filed a federal lawsuit against LSU in Alabama, coinciding with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey's testimony in state court in Baton Rouge. The amended lawsuit reveals that a vote of the conference presidents on whether to expel LSU from the league is scheduled, while Judge William Jorden expressed skepticism about the players' attorneys proving legal standing against the NCAA or SEC. Meanwhile, attorney Tom Mars emphasized the importance of having top-notch legal representation, suggesting that a player with a $91 million contract should not rely on ChatGPT for legal advice.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 22:59 UTC)

In a significant legal development, a federal court has granted a temporary restraining order that allows athletes, including Wright and Harris, to return to college for one more season, despite the SEC's threats of hefty penalties against LSU. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry criticized the situation, stating that the players are not professional athletes and calling the circumstances ridiculous, while attorney Tom Mars noted that Lane Kiffin often relied on ChatGPT to support LSU's position, which he argued was frequently incorrect. The players' legal team, which included Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill, contended that the NCAA's new rules should permit these athletes to claim eligibility for an additional season, emphasizing that the court should not punish them for the NCAA's missteps in rulemaking.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 17:01 UTC)

In a legal standoff with the SEC, Lane Kiffin, head coach of LSU, attempted to add former Ole Miss players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to the roster, which resulted in the SEC threatening significant penalties, including a hefty fine and a potential half-season suspension for Kiffin. Despite obtaining a preliminary injunction allowing them to play this season, LSU ultimately decided not to add the players, leading the SEC to file a federal lawsuit against the university and consider expelling LSU from the league. Kiffin's contract, valued at $91 million, is at the center of this controversy, as he believed he could justify the addition of the players based on legal opinions he received from ChatGPT.