LSU should accept defeat in college fifth-year eligibility debate

Yahoo Sports college football reporter and On3 contributor Ross Dellenger added that conference commissioner Greg Sankey has "'full and unlimited authority' ... to [suspend] a school from competition," an even more draconian, albeit necessary, response.

If that weren't enough, on Thursday, Dellenger shared College Football Playoff officials are discussing a ban on teams with former pros, which may ultimately be the greatest deterrent of all.

Aggressive penalties should end LSU's pursuit of former NFL signees 

The Tigers pushed the envelope, and the rest of college pushed back even harder.

The argument that had the NCAA's five-year college eligibility rule implemented in June 2026 been in place before the 2026 NFL Draft, Wright, Harris and other players who previously exhausted their college careers would have remained in college was worth examining. And according to a friendly Louisiana judge, it had validity. 

But is using that as justification to pit itself against the rest of college football really worth it? Is it even necessary?

As much as players like Wright and Harris could help, LSU isn't barren at tight end or defensive tackle. Trey'Dez Green is arguably the top tight end prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft. At defensive line, the Tigers added former Auburn Tigers defensive tackle Malik Blocton and Clemson Tigers lineman Stephiylan Green while landing four-star freshman Deuce Geralds, Georgia's all-time high-school sack leader, as part of the class of 2026, along with five-star defensive end Lamar Brown.

There's no such thing as having too much depth, but if head coach Lane Kiffin is unable to make things work with the talent he already has, chances are landing a couple of role players right before the season starts won't save him. 

On Wednesday, ESPN's Pete Thamel cautioned, "This story is far from over." 

But it may lose its legs if LSU accepts defeat and doesn't stand firm on adding Harris and Wright. A third signee, former Notre Dame edge-rusher Junior Tuihalamaka, has a bit more complicated situation after suffering an injury during the offseason and failing to latch on with an NFL team.

Players in-limbo because of the Louisiana state court ruling and widespread actions taken by conferences around the country — and possibly the CFP — to prevent them from returning may still pursue eligibility, but as Yahoo Sports' Dan Wolken recently wrote, coaches and universities have the power to say "No."

Many already have. LSU often marches to the beat of its own drum. But this time, it should fall in line.