LSU linebacker Michael Divinity is ineligible and won't be able to return to the field unless the No. 1 Tigers reach the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, according to coach Ed Orgeron.
Divinity, who leads LSU with three sacks in five games, left the Tigers on Nov. 4 for what Orgeron described as "personal reasons." Divinity returned to practice Monday.
Orgeron said during Wednesday's SEC teleconference with reporters that Divinity will miss the remaining two regular-season games against Arkansas (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Texas A&M (Nov. 30, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN), as well as potential games in the SEC championship against Georgia on Dec. 7 and a CFP semifinal.
"If there'd be a championship game, maybe he may be eligible for that," Orgeron said of the CFP National Championship Game in New Orleans on Jan. 13. "Up until then, Mike will not be eligible to play."
Orgeron declined to say why Divinity wasn't eligible to play.
Divinity, a senior from Marrero, Louisiana, missed two of LSU's first three games for what Orgeron called "coach's decisions" and didn't play against Utah State on Oct. 5.
Ranked as the No. 46 prospect in the 2016 ESPN 300, Divinity had been one of LSU's biggest playmakers on defense the past two seasons. He moved from outside linebacker to inside linebacker this season and had 23 tackles with three quarterback hurries and four tackles for loss in five games.
LSU's defense struggled mightily in last week's 58-37 win at Ole Miss, allowing 614 yards of offense, including 402 rushing yards.