Dabo Swinney Rips 'Embarrassing' CFB Eligibility Rules Ahead of Clemson vs. Lane Kiffin, LSU

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is not happy his players might be taking on opponents with experience on NFL rosters during their Saturday season opener against LSU.

Swinney spoke with reporters Tuesday after the SEC agreed to temporarily comply with a court order extending eligibility for former NCAA players who joined NFL training camps after their fourth year of college ended last spring.

"I'm at kind of a loss of words. I would just say it's kind of embarrassing," Swinney said Tuesday. "Honestly, it's just embarrassing that's where we are. I don't blame the kids, and people trying to take advantage of the system.

"I just think it's embarrassing where we are with college football, and we've been there for a while... We have no rules. There's no governance. It's a joke. There's zero rules, and when you enforce rules somebody just goes and finds a judge to say 'No, you can't enforce that rule.'"

Swinney added, "All of that outside stuff, I mean, we just kind of— no pun intended— we stay in our lane here at Clemson."

The Clemson coach's comments come after LSU coach Lane Kiffin confirmed his team is looking at adding multiple players who had signed with NFL teams earlier this offseason.

Swinney isn't the only SEC coach to oppose the idea of signing players with professional experience. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday he felt it was "morally wrong" for college teams to add players who have been on NFL rosters.

Players who could potentially join LSU ahead of the season include a pair of former Ole Miss students in tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, who had been released earlier this summer by the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints, respectively, per NOLA.com's Reed Darcey .

There is also "mutual interest" between LSU and former Utah cornerback Blake Cotton, who has been released by the Denver Broncos, per LouisianaSports.net's Matt Moscana .

Kiffin confirmed Monday both Wright and defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka, whose eligibility previously expired after playing last season for Notre Dame, have already begun practicing with LSU.

The legal battle between former college players and the SEC started after the NCAA decided in June to allow all players five years eligibility, but not to grant a retroactive fifth year to players who had already used up their eligibility under previous rules.

Lawsuits have since been filed across the country involving players from the high school class of 2022 who are looking to return for another season.

It is not yet clear if any of these players will be allowed to see action in the NCAA regular season. The SEC said in a statement that, while temporarily complying with court orders, the organization will continue to contest the issue later this week.