The battle brewing between LSU and the SEC is heating up.

Ahead of an anticipated court hearing Thursday in Louisana, the SEC and its members are weighing all possible outcomes, including possible forfeiture of games, a legal challenge in federal court and even possible expulsion, sources told CBS Sports. Yahoo Sports reported earlier Monday that possible boycotts were also being discussed. Expulsion is considered extremely, extremely unlikely but speaks to the level of frustration within the conference that it has even been uttered. 

It’s the latest escalation in a fascinating standoff between the SEC and one of its members. If you need a refresher, it stems from LSU’s decision to add three former professional football players, two of whom played for Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss last season, to this year’s roster. The players, as part of a larger group of more than 40 athletes, won a temporary restraining order from a Baton Rouge judge that allows them to return to college football and benefit from a new five years of eligibility in five seasons rule change that excluded the class of 2022. The ruling prohibited the NCAA from enforcing its rules on eligibility and professional athletes. 

As CBS Sports first reported last week, LSU reached out to multiple players on NFL rosters or their representatives to urge them to file a lawsuit against the NCAA and return to school, according to sources. This includes some of the players who ended up in a Louisiana lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s ruling, which sources have pointed out wasn’t tried in Baton Rouge by accident. 

The SEC – along with the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 – then passed a rule that banned professional football players from returning to the collegiate ranks. Additionally, the SEC’s presidents and chancellors gave commissioner Greg Sankey full power to dole out punishments related to violating the rules, in addition to suspending a head coach for up to half the season and fining a program as much as 50 percent of its operating costs. The final formal vote within the SEC was 15-0, with LSU notably abstaining. 

The lawyers for those impacted athletes, in turn, added the SEC and commissioner Greg Sankey to the lawsuit to prevent the conference from enforcing its rules. The SEC’s intraconference transfer rules prevent a player from transferring from one SEC institution to another outside of the transfer portal windows, as Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris are attempting to do. 

In a statement to CBS Sports on Sunday, the conference said it would comply with the order but fight to enforce its rules. 

“The order entered against the SEC and Commissioner Sankey is a temporary restraining order, not a final ruling on the merits,” the conference said in a statement. “The SEC and Commissioner Sankey are prepared to contest the allegations in the plaintiffs’ petition at Thursday morning’s hearing and defend the SEC’s rights as a voluntary association to fulfill its mission to its member institutions.”

Even if LSU and the athletes are victorious on Thursday, the fight won’t be over. In fact, multiple SEC sources indicated confidence that, with a number of options available to the league, it would eventually end with those players becoming ineligible. The College Football Playoff is also weighing a possible playoff ban on any school that plays a former professional athlete who isn’t eligible under NCAA rules, according to sources. 

The looming question is how far LSU is willing to go and what could be the eventual penalties if the school disobeys the conference ban. On Monday, Kiffin said he would “absolutely” follow the SEC’s rules if the court order was reversed.

“All we’re waiting for is clarity this week from the SEC, which they can’t give final clarity until Thursday’s ruling,” Kiffin said. “We are waiting for final clearance and guidelines from the SEC. I have been in communication daily with the SEC to make sure we’re complying with the SEC rules.” 

Kiffin has been in frequent communication with Louisiana governor Jeff Landry, according to sources, and there is a belief amongst at least some SEC sources that Landry is a primary driving force in the escalating battle. A request for comment from Landry’s office went unreturned last week but he told Front Office Sports, in part, “This whole thing is ridiculous. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.” 

LSU must set its final roster on Friday, one game before an anticipated game against Clemson. Whether the three former NFL players are on the roster — Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris and Junior Tuihalamaka — could prompt serious fireworks within the SEC. 

Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during a game against Iran in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Gilas Pilipinas shifts from the euphoria of completing a home sweep in the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers to making sure it can defend its gold medal in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Coach Tim Cone is making a quick turnaround as he is now set to handle a completely different lineup—and even a completely different system—for the continental showcase set Sept. 10 to 20.

“From what I’ve seen from that team, they’re a lot of fun to watch,” Cone said. “I think the fans and the countrymen are gonna have a lot of fun watching that team.”

An all-PBA squad will comprise the team for the Asiad, with a spot reserved for Justin Brownlee should he decide to return after skipping the window.

NLEx’s Robert Bolick and Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum are among the notable candidates to make the Asiad roster, with their games seemingly fitting the team’s playing style.

On the other hand, three players from the window pool will move into the Asiad buildup: Converge twin towers Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana and Barangay Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos.

Abarrientos didn’t make the cut for the window, Baltazar saw limited action against Jordan, while Arana was placed in the final 12 against Iran after Carl Tamayo went down with a sprained ankle.

Cone said Arana had already trained with the Asian Games squad, while Baltazar and Abarrientos will have to get up to speed when they join Tuesday’s practice.

Assistants Richard del Rosario, Josh Reyes and Jong Uichico were tasked to oversee the Asiad preparations while Cone was busy with the Qualifiers, and Cone has allowed that squad to go in a different direction.

“It’s a different system, they’re not playing my system,” Cone said. “They’re playing a different system, and more of an up-tempo, push the ball because they’re a little bit smaller. Obviously they’re smaller because they don’t have Kai [Sotto] and AJ [Edu] and June Mar [Fajardo] playing.

“So they’re smaller, so they’re gonna use their speed and quickness to get up and down the floor. So it’ll be really interesting to watch and see how they play against Jordan or Iran, and kinda compare them to the window team.” INQ

Cody Gakpo was expected to leave Liverpool before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday with Manchester City in the driving seat

Manchester City will prioritise a move for Enzo Fernandez with Cody Gakpo’s move from Liverpool now off. City’s Premier League rivals have blocked a departure for the Holland international, despite the 27-year-old reportedly being keen on a move.

City had made a late dash for the wantaway Liverpool star after the midfielder was left to mull over his options ahead of Bradley Barcola’s arrival on Merseyside. The Athletic reports that Liverpool have rejected City’s offer of £75m plus £5m in add-ons.

Now the focus will switch to reunion for Enzo Maresca and the Chelsea star Fernandez. The Argentinian hasn’t featured in each of the Londoners’ last two games, having made a substitute appearance against Fulham in the opening match.

The Italian head coach has witnessed Tijjani Reijnders, Nico Gonzalez and key man Rodri exit the Etihad Stadium this summer for moves to Newcastle United and Barcelona, respectively.

Blues icon Bernardo Silva left upon the expiry of his contract last season and City have moved to fix those gaps in the transfer window.

Ayyoub Bouaddi and Ellot Anderson among them after the pair made lucrative moves to the North West while Fernandez is the third midfield addition identified.

It was reported earlier this summer that the 27-year-old wanted to leave Chelsea with links to Real Madrid prevalent. Los Blancos subsequently released a statement that they were not interested in the Argentine but uncertainty has persisted around his future at Stamford Bridge.

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Chelsea had set a deadline of August 14 for the midfielder, which City didn’t meet, and now there is a race against time to complete a move for Fernandez before September 1 when the window slams shut at 11pm.

But Londoners boss Xabi Alonso kept the door open to a possible sale.

He said: “We’ll see. We want the best for the team and that’s why we made the decision against Luton and today and anything that happens before Tuesday evening, we need to be aware of what is going to develop.

“We are not sure, we are preparing for all the scenarios but I am sure that whatever happens from Wednesday we will have a good enough squad to compete in all the Premier League games.”

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The football world reacted as Argentina captain Lionel Messi announced his international retirement on Monday (August 31), ending his illustrious career with 125 goals in 207 appearances, both tallies only dwarfed by Cristiano Ronaldo

The 39-year-old won four senior titles with the national team, including one FIFA World Cup (2022), and came within a final win of adding another last month before the Albiceleste lost 1-0 in extra time to Spain.

Having made his international debut in a friendly win over Hungary in August 2005, Messi called time 21 years later after registering a record 193 goal contributions (125 goals, 58 assists) in the international game.

Following Messi’s international retirement, many of his Argentina teammates, club teammates and FIFA president Gianni Infantino shared their thoughts. Here’s what some of them said:

Lionel Messi’s international teammate Rodrigo De Paul wrote on his Instagram Story (as translated from Spanish):

“Just thank you. The greatest of all time. Thank you for making us so incredibly happy. You can’t imagine how many smiles you brought to our faces!! You are eternal.”

Tagliafico wrote on his Instagram Story:

“Eternal thanks @leomessi 💙🤍”

Leandro Paredes wrote on his Instagram Story for his now-retired international teammate (as translated from Spanish):

“We love you, Captain, we’ll be grateful to you for the rest of our lives for…”

Cuti Romero wrote on his Instagram Story (as translated from Spanish):

“I love you. I admire you, and I will always be grateful to you for everything you left in me and for our country. Thank you for so much, captain. 🥹❤️”

Angel Di Maria wrote on Instagram (as per Messi Xtra):

“We will remain grateful to you for our entire lives because you are Argentine, and because you raised the name of Argentina to the top of the world, and because you chose to be Argentine at a time when you could have easily chosen another country. Thank you, Captain. Thank you for everything. The best in history.”

Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Xavi wrote on Instagram (as per Messi Xtra):

“Warmest congratulations, Leo!! You’ve achieved everything you wanted with your country!! Big hug, my friend! ♥️⚽🔝🙏

The Argentina national football team wrote on X:

“Thank you for giving us the most beautiful journey of our lives. Your legacy and professionalism will remain forever etched in our hearts. Thank you, Captain. We love you 🩵.”

Giuliano Simeone wrote on Instagram (as translated from Spanish) about Lionel Messi:

“Thank you, Leo. For everything you did for our country, for everything you made us feel, and for having been an inspiration to so many of us since we were kids. Today, the player we all admire says goodbye to the National Team. But for me, the idol I watched as a kid and whom I was lucky enough to have by my side one day is also saying goodbye. You are eternal. INFINITE THANKS.”

Lisandro Martinez wrote about Lionel Messi (as per Albiceleste Talk):

“A huge sadness, honestly. You’re never prepared for these things, but from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!! You are my example and an example for the whole world, a winner in football and a winner in life!! My daughter will be very proud that her father shared a team with such an extraordinary human being. You are the greatest athlete in history, because when it comes to football, honestly, there is no comparison. I love you so much 😭❤️””

Enzo Fernandez wrote for Lionel Messi:

“I didn’t just get to play with you. We shared training camps, the dressing room, conversations, hugs, difficult moments, incredible moments, and we ended up becoming world champions together. … You always had a word, some advice, a hug, or simply a way of making me feel calm whenever I needed it. I’ll never forget that.

“Today, it’s hard for me to imagine the next training camp without you. … Thank you for treating me the way you did, for everything you taught me, and for allowing me to share a part of your story. “We’re going to miss you so much, captain.” 💙🥺”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote on Instagram:

“Congratulations 🇦🇷@leomessi on an extraordinary international career which has inspired millions and redefined the beautiful game. 👏 … Thank you for every unforgettable memory defending the colors of@afaseleccion. And for uniting fans from every corner of the world. I wish you all the best in your next chapter. ⚽️❤️”

Lionel Messi ends his international career with 21 FIFA World Cup goals, only one shy of record holder Kylian Mbappe.

How Lionel Messi fared for Argentina at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Lionel Messi had a stellar campaign for Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, where Lionel Scaloni’s side narrowly failed to join Italy and Brazil as the only teams to defend their World Cup titles.

In eight games, La Pulga scored eight times and provided four assists in eight matches as the holders fell to Spain in the final. During the campaign, Messi set the record for longest scoring run (9) in the competition.

Lionel Messi also scored or assisted in a record 11 straight World Cup games and set the record for most assists (12) in the competition. He finished two goals short of Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe (10).