BATON ROUGE — A Louisiana judge ruled in favor of several athletes fighting for a fifth year of college eligibility, a direct contradiction of recently implemented Southeastern Conference rules.

After nine hours of testimony and debate, Judge William Jorden ruled in favor of the players, paving the way for the athletes to play in their fifth year of eligibility. The judge enjoined LSU, the SEC and the NCAA from taking any prohibitive action against the players. The decision effectively means that LSU must roster the players for the upcoming seasons. 

The ruling, coming two days before LSU’s season opener against Clemson, ensures the eligibility of multiple LSU football players, including former Cleveland Brown Dae'Quan Wright, former New Orleans Saint Zxavian Harris and former Denver Bronco Blake Cotton.

"I think it was a great judge and he ruled in our favor, which makes him even better," Wright said. 

Wright was one of nearly a dozen players to take the stand. Wright signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, joined the Cleveland Browns and then was waived from the team. At that time, he committed to LSU and started practicing with the Tigers.  

Wright said he fully expects to be on the roster Friday and will play Saturday. Harris told WBRZ that he'll be back for the Ole Miss game as he recovers from an injury. 

"This is something that had to happen," Harris said. 

In June, the NCAA created a new rule allowing athletes five seasons of competition within a five-year window. However, that new rule did not apply to athletes who graduated high school in 2022, as many were already out of eligibility and pursuing professional careers by the time the rule was implemented.

Many of those Class of 2022 players filed legal action around the country, including a suit filed in Baton Rouge against the NCAA on behalf of 44 athletes seeking another year of eligibility. That suit, which was amended to include the SEC after the conference implemented its own rules banning member schools from rostering former NFL, NBA and WNBA players, led to Thursday’s hearing. 

During Thursday’s court proceedings, the judge and media-filled courtroom heard more than three hours of testimony from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. He argued that players who leave college to play professional sports cannot return to college athletics because it would violate the league’s professionalism rules. 

Attorney General Liz Murrill and attorney Tony Clayton spoke after the hearing. Murrill said that Sankey's conduct was offensive, specifically referencing his comments about not knowing the NCAA rules regarding professionalism.

"Sankey totally, totally disrespected the courts of Louisiana," Clayton said. "If they continue to pick on these children, we will be here to make sure the rules are applied fairly."

During Thursday’s hearing in Baton Rouge, the SEC filed its own lawsuit against LSU, head coach Lane Kiffin and other university leaders. It alleges that LSU's conduct surrounding the ongoing legal fight has harmed the SEC, created a "competitive imbalance," and disrupted student-athletes' expectations. 

Murrill called the lawsuit "frivolous" and "legal garbage."

"I do think it was an attempt at a collateral attack on this judge," Murrill said. "I don't think this judge was impressed by that threat."

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin was not present during the court hearing and did not mention it during his weekly radio show Thursday evening.

You can read live updates from the hearing below: 

- 8:05 p.m.: Judge William Jorden ruled in favor of the players to pave the way for athletes to play in their fifth year of eligibility and prohibiting any future penalties for the current plaintiffs. 

- 7:50 p.m.: Judge Jorden returns from chambers and speaks about the qualifications of a professional athlete. He said that taking money in professional sports is no different than cashing a check in college. 

- 7:25 p.m.: After hearing all arguments, Judge Jorden headed to his chambers to review the case. 

- 7:15 p.m.: Following Williams' address, attorneys for the players delivered a rebuttal, arguing that the athletes did not have the option to return to college before the five-for-five rule was put in place.

- 7:10 p.m.: In closing statements on behalf of the SEC, Jason Williams argued that allowing athletes who were affiliated with professional teams will limit roster spots for younger athletes. He also said the SEC is simply trying to govern the institutions that signed up to be member schools. 

- 6:30 p.m.: In his final address of the hearing, Tony Clayton, representing several players, said, "We are a nation of laws, not Sankey or Jason Williams.

- 6:05 p.m.: Closing arguments begin. Judge Jorden says he will make a ruling tonight. 

- 5:45 p.m.: Court recessed until 6 p.m., when lawyers are expected to give the judge their final arguments.  

- 5:15 p.m.: Attorney and sports agent Mark Andrew Pepper Sr. was called as a witness and was questioned by defense lawyers for the NCAA and SEC. Pepper is one of many attorneys representing players, and said he was asked to be a witness only an hour before he was on the stand. The defense asked if Pepper knew what words to say for the judge to rule in favor of his clients. "No one has complimented me like that, but I do understand the law," he replied. 

- 5:00 p.m.: Player testimony has concluded. Court takes a 10-minute recess and returns to session.  

- 4:36 p.m.: LSU softball players took the stand. 

- 4:05 p.m.: Former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright took the stand. Wright signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, joined the Cleveland Browns and then was waived from the team. At that time, he committed to LSU and started practicing with the Tigers. 

- 3:56 p.m.: Court is back in session. Southern University defensive end Ckelby Givens is sworn in for testimony. Givens said he only attended a day and a half of camp with the Buffalo Bills before returning to Southern. He was asked if he took money or a roster spot from anyone else, and he said he did neither.

- 3:45 p.m.: SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is ushered out of an alternate exit to the courthouse due to general security concerns. 

- 3:20 p.m.: Court breaks following short testimony from LSU women's soccer player Jocelyn Ollivierre. Hearing is set to continue after a 30-minute recess. 

- 3:15 p.m.: LSU women's soccer player Jazmin Ferguson testifies that her coach was prohibited by LSU from attending Thursday's hearing. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is called back to the stand. 

- 3 p.m.: Players begin taking the stand after three hours of testimony from Sankey. Up first is LSU women's soccer player Jazmin Ferguson, who has already played in a game this season. The women's soccer team is set to play Baylor at 7 p.m. tonight.

- 2:45 p.m.: Attorneys for players attempting to join LSU's roster say athletes will take the stand Thursday afternoon. 

- 2:15 p.m.: Sankey says that, while he hasn't read the 2026 NCAA manual, the conference follows NCAA rules on professionalism that specify professional players are not eligible to play in college sports. "NFL is not a training ground for college football," Sankey said. 

- 1:30 p.m.: Sankey argues over specifics concerning conference bylaws relating to player eligibility. 

- 12:15 p.m.: WBRZ reports SEC suing LSU in federal court. READ STORY HERE

- 12:00 p.m.: Sankey takes the stand in 19th JDC. 

- 11 a.m.: Civil court hearing between LSU players formerly on NFL rosters and the SEC begins.