The Ole Miss Rebels and LSU Tigers' rivalry is only just getting started. Before the two teams collide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium this September, there is expected to be a legal battle set to unfold soon.
Meanwhile, LSU became the latest SEC school to speak out against the Protect College Sports Act. Several Big Ten teams had an ambiguous meeting with Senators as well. It's unclear what comes next, but there were plenty of updates on this front.
Here were some recent major SEC headlines on the gridiron:
Ole Miss to sue LSU or Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper directly
It's not an "if," but a "when," the Rebels will sue the Tigers. Per On3's Pete Nakos, a suit could be filed "within the next two weeks." The issue stems from the transfers of EDGE Princewill Umanmielen and offensive tackle Devin Harper's transfers to Baton Rouge. The money they took from Ole Miss may need to be returned.
"The question will be if Ole Miss files suit against the players specifically or LSU, arguing Tigers are on hook because of rev-share cap," Nakos said of the issue. Smart money is on Keith Carter and Co. taking on LSU directly. Players might be given pause about negotiating with the University of Mississippi if Umanmielen and Harper end up as the defendants.
The NIL era has been wild from a financial perspective, but it appears some schools are looking to rein things in when they're on the wrong side of the issue.
Tennessee and Ole Miss target shares updates, Tom Herman hired
SEC schools oppose Protect College Sports Act, but B1G is ambiguous
The Tigers are a part of all the legal controversies of the past few days surrounding SEC football. Per Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger, "LSU joins a growing list of SEC schools in sending a letter to lawmakers in opposition of the Protect College Sports Act as written in its current form. Similar messages have been sent from Alabama, Auburn, Texas and Texas A&M."
Louisiana U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy added, "LSU is right to oppose the Protect College Sports Act as written. Issues such as insufficient Title IX protections and letting student-athletes become employees need to be addressed. ... Schools cannot afford that model without cutting Olympic and women’s sports, putting hundreds of thousands of college opportunities at risk!"
Dellenger later added on Tuesday, "Four Big Ten university presidents - Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and USC - visited today with Sens. Maria Cantwell and Ted Cruz as part of dialogue around the Protect College Sports Act, per a statement from the schools. ... The meetings, described as "productive," are notable."
The Protect College Sports Act was introduced by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) and co-sponsored by Chris Coons (D-DE) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO). A companion bill was introduced by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) in the House of Representatives. Texas Tech Board of Regents Chair Cody Campbell is the biggest supporter of the bill from the college football side.
It's unclear where this all goes. Never write off the fact that this could be a diversion that ultimately gets nothing done, though. It's the U.S. Federal Government, and these people are paid to pretend to do stuff while taking longer vacations than any of us would be able to get away with. The only things they decide on unanimously typically cost you, the taxpayer, money.
Still, if something does actually end up happening, it's clear that LSU, and the SEC schools from Texas (Longhorns, Aggies) and Alabama (Crimson Tide, Tigers) won't be happy.
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