The player initially faced a two-semester suspension, but upon appeal, LSU reduced the sanction to a four-semester disciplinary probation without restrictions extending through May 31, 2028, allowing him to remain on campus and participate in team activities.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - An LSU student says she feels the university failed her after she reported being sexually assaulted by an LSU football player in October 2025.

Kendall Francis, who is a first-generation college student, said she went to an LSU dorm in October 2025 to visit a football player she had met through social media.

Francis alleges she was sexually assaulted.

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“I just went over there… and I was sexually assaulted,” Francis said.

Francis said she returned to her apartment afterward and was in shock. She said LSU Police came to her apartment, took her to the hospital and she spent about seven hours there.

The name of the football player accused in the incident has not been publicly released.

“The fact my entire freshman year was taken away from me because of this experience is why I spoke out about it,” Francis said.

https://www.wafb.com/2026/09/24/exclusive-lsu-student-says-university-failed-her-after-title-ix-finding-alleged-sexual-assault/

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In January 2026, Francis filed a formal Title IX complaint with LSU.

During the university’s investigation, Francis and the student-athlete gave conflicting accounts about what happened that night, including whether Francis consented.

According to a Title IX report obtained by the WAFB I-TEAM, LSU found the student-athlete responsible for sexual assault and forcible rape.

The student-athlete appealed the finding, but the Title IX office upheld the decision.

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The Title IX finding is part of LSU’s administrative process and is separate from a criminal investigation.

“Physically, through all of this, I went through depression and I lost a lot of weight. I got diagnosed with severe anxiety and I have to go seek a therapist. I also failed both my freshmen semesters because of all the trauma I dealt with,” Francis said.

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The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office has since opened a criminal investigation into the allegations.

“We understand that the matter was previously addressed through a campus-level investigatory and review process and that the LSU Police Department and the Baton Rouge Police Department have information concerning the matter,” DA Hillar Moore said.

“It wasn’t easy, but it was honestly what I had to do for myself,” Francis said about speaking publicly.

LSU said in a statement that it properly followed its Title IX procedures. The university also said the student-athlete was the person who initially reported the incident.

“LSU and its current administration take very seriously any allegations of misconduct involving students on our campuses. Safety and security must be our number one priority,” said President Rousse. “Let me assure everyone that this incident has been handled professionally and that LSU has strictly followed our policies, procedures and best practices, including the Title IX process, to guide our actions to date. Now that a criminal complaint has been filed, our role is to continue cooperating with our law enforcement partners as they work through their investigatory process.”

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This post was edited on 9/24/26 at 2:45 pm