The latest from the SEC was an amended complaint filed on Tuesday morning in an Alabama federal court, which indicated the conference wishes to take some serious action against LSU after commissioner Greg Sankey stood in a Baton Rouge courtroom last week to argue the school, Lane Kiffin and the athletic department staffers were preventing the use of First Amendment rights to govern the conference.All of this to say college athletics has reached a point where former NFL and Maryland Terrapins linebacker Shawne Merriman can’t believe his eyes.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMLane Kiffin speaks during his introductory press conference as head coach of the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Dec.1, 2025.
(Gus Stark/LSU/University Images)"I think it’s pretty ridiculous," he told OutKick about athletes returning to college to get their fifth year of eligibility despite going pro just months ago."Look, I’ve met Lane Kiffin plenty of times.
I think he’s great.I got no problem for him wanting to win by putting whoever he can on the roster and making the situation better."But there have to be guardrails, because it won’t stop here if you don’t stop it now.
That’s the issue."Merriman added that college athletics has "always been pure," and even with name, image and likeness (NIL) deals becoming a key component of why these athletes are willing to stay, or even return, to Division I sports, he believes there was some decorum everyone could agree on.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!Now, it’s a free-for-all, with athletes jumping through the transfer portal chasing the next biggest check from colleges and universities to play for them.
And with the NCAA ruling that college athletes have five years to use five seasons of eligibility, players like tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who played four years of college football before going undrafted and getting cut by the Clevel...