Ole Miss Sues LSU Players, Serving Papers Days Before Rivalry Game

The upcoming football matchup between LSU and Ole Miss has become further entangled in controversy as Ole Miss is suing two former players now on the LSU roster for breach of contract. Devin Harper and Princewill Umanmielen are named in a lawsuit filed by the Ole Miss athletic department in July, alleging they failed to pay contract buyouts after transferring to LSU.

Princewill Umanmielen was served legal papers related to the lawsuit outside LSU's football facility on Tuesday, adding a new layer of tension just days before the highly anticipated game on Saturday. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry commented on the situation via social media, suggesting Ole Miss could have waited until the game to confront Umanmielen, adding, "He’ll be easy to find in the Ole Miss backfield often!"

The lawsuit claims that both Harper and Umanmielen signed revenue-sharing agreements that included provisions requiring them to compensate the university if they departed before fulfilling their commitment. Ole Miss stated that they value their student-athletes and expect them to uphold their contractual obligations, noting that their actions are consistent with other institutions in college athletics.

Ole Miss filed the lawsuit after the players participated in the College Football Playoff with the Rebels and then transferred to LSU in the offseason. The university alleges that both players signed new deals in January but entered the transfer portal once the season concluded. Ole Miss officials reportedly attempted to reach a settlement with the athletes prior to filing the suit.

LSU officials reportedly directed Ole Miss attorneys to the athletes, stating that the players are responsible for their own contracts, which led to disagreements over the payment of the buyouts. The legal actions and the recent serving of papers have amplified the existing rivalry and added significant off-field drama to the upcoming SEC contest.