A Louisiana judge's ruling Thursday night improved LSU football coach Lane Kiffin's options for adding experienced players to his roster ahead of the season opener.

East Baton Rouge Parish Judge William Jorden granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by athletes seeking an additional year of eligibility under the NCAA's updated rules. The decision directly benefits two former Ole Miss standouts now aiming to join the Tigers: tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who signed with the Cleveland Browns, and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, who signed with the New Orleans Saints.

The injunction prevents the NCAA from denying eligibility to the named plaintiffs and blocks the Southeastern Conference from enforcing penalties against LSU or other schools for adding them. Both players stated after the hearing that they expect to appear on LSU's official 105-man roster when it is submitted Friday.

LSU faces a Friday deadline to finalize its roster before hosting Clemson on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. The ruling came hours after the SEC filed a separate federal lawsuit in Alabama against LSU, Kiffin, and school administrators over the planned additions.

The SEC had adopted a conference-wide policy by a 15-0 vote, with LSU abstaining, that threatened sanctions for programs rostering former professional athletes. Commissioner Greg Sankey attended the Baton Rouge hearing and testified. The conference issued a statement disagreeing with the court's decision.

The case stems from challenges by members of the high school class of 2022 who argued they were unfairly excluded from the NCAA's shift to a five-year eligibility window. The injunction applies to dozens of plaintiffs across sports but provides immediate relief for the two players linked to Kiffin and LSU.

LSU players have reportedly expressed support for the additions. The legal developments highlight ongoing tensions between conference autonomy, NCAA rules, and athlete eligibility claims in college sports.