Three days before one of the most anticipated openers of the 2025 college football season, LSU football was blindsided by the sudden suspension of starting safety AJ Haulcy. He will miss the first half of the Tigers’ matchup against the Clemson Tigers due to an NCAA ruling, leaving the ninth-ranked team scrambling ahead of this Saturday’s nationally televised clash.
The news, first reported by ESPN, arrived late Wednesday night when the NCAA informed LSU that Haulcy—one of the Tigers’ top transfer additions—would be ineligible for the first half due to a penalty stemming from the 2024 season. He was ejected during the fourth quarter of the Houston Cougar's game against BYU last November for an incident initially ruled as unsportsmanlike conduct. Upon further review, the NCAA reclassified it as “fighting,” which, under Rule 9-2-1, carries an automatic first-half suspension for the player’s next game.
The problem is that LSU was never informed.
According to program sources, the university had no prior indication that the transfer’s eligibility was in jeopardy. Haulcy, who moved from Houston to LSU in May, was also unaware of the pending suspension, having received no communication from either his former program or the NCAA.
The NCAA suspension could not come at a worse time. LSU’s secondary remains a concern despite overall defensive improvement in 2024. The Tigers finished 59th in scoring defense last season, a notable jump from 82nd in 2023, but still struggled against the pass, allowing over 230 yards per game. Haulcy was expected to help shore up that weakness, especially against a dangerous Clemson aerial attack led by quarterback Cade Klubnik. Klubnik returns after throwing for over 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns last season and is supported by a talented receiving corps featuring Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco.
With Haulcy sidelined, LSU may have to rely on backups like Jardin Gilbert, Javien Toviano, or Dashawn Spears to fill the void in the first half — a critical stretch in a game carrying early College Football Playoff implications.
Haulcy’s career path adds another layer to the story. A former three-star recruit, he began his college journey at New Mexico before transferring to Houston, where he recorded 88 tackles and five interceptions over two seasons. His physicality and production made him one of the most sought-after defensive backs in the 2025 portal cycle and a core piece of LSU’s retooled defense.
The situation also highlights larger issues surrounding the transfer portal. With over 3,000 athletes switching schools last year, communication gaps like Haulcy’s have become more common. Under current NCAA rules, suspensions follow players across programs, but there is no standard protocol for notifying the new school. Many within college football view that as a flaw in enforcement.
The senior’s absence may be brief, but the effects could linger — especially if LSU falters early. The Tigers are aiming to reverse a troubling trend, having dropped five straight season openers. A win over No. 4 Clemson would provide a major boost to their College Football Playoff aspirations, while a loss could spark renewed scrutiny of the system and the communication breakdown that led to this situation.
