Ole Miss Lawsuit Against LSU Player Escalates Ahead of Rivalry Game
Tensions rise as a key LSU player is served court papers stemming from a legal dispute initiated by Ole Miss following a coaching change.
An escalating feud between LSU and Ole Miss has spilled onto the field, as LSU defensive end Princewill Umanmielen was served court papers on Tuesday. The legal action comes just days before the two rival teams are scheduled to meet in a highly anticipated SEC showdown.
According to ESPN insider Pete Thamel, Umanmielen received the legal documents while at LSU's football facility. This development intensifies the already strained relationship between the universities, particularly following coach Lane Kiffin's departure from Ole Miss to LSU on a $91 million contract before the College Football Playoff in November.
Ole Miss initiated legal action in July against two players who followed Kiffin to LSU, alleging they failed to compensate the university for their departures as stipulated by revenue-sharing agreements signed in early January. The lawsuits were filed against Umanmielen and offensive lineman Devin Harper.
Ole Miss is seeking $550,000 from Umanmielen and $400,000 from Harper, according to filings in Lafayette County Circuit Court in Oxford, Mississippi. The university stated that revenue-sharing agreements included a provision requiring players to compensate the school if they left before fulfilling their commitment.
In a statement released at the time, Ole Miss emphasized its commitment to student-athletes and its expectation of reciprocal commitment in upholding contracts. The university asserted its responsibility to enforce contractual terms, aligning with actions taken by other institutions in the current landscape of college athletics, and noted attempts to resolve the matter amicably prior to filing suit.
Kiffin left Ole Miss after their regular-season finale in late November. His initial request to continue coaching the Rebels in the College Football Playoff after accepting the LSU position was denied by Ole Miss. The team then appointed then-defensive coordinator Pete Golding as Kiffin's replacement, leading Ole Miss to the national semifinals.
Following the Rebels' playoff run, both Umanmielen and Harper transferred to LSU. Umanmielen recorded nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss as a junior for Ole Miss last season, while Harper was a freshman reserve who appeared in six games in 2025.
When asked about his impending return to Ole Miss, Umanmielen downplayed the situation, stating, "Of course, there's excitement seeing those guys. But it's another week. They're on the opposing side. So, there are no friends on the field, you know?"
