Former longtime LSU coach Les Miles filed a lawsuit against the school for vacating 37 wins as part of self-imposed punishment that sunk his chance to qualify for the College Football Hall of Fame.

In a release on Monday, Miles said the decision was “irrational and unfair self-inflicted punishment.”

LSU announced last June it was vacating wins from 2012 to 2015 over recruiting violations regarding former player Vadal Alexander. LSU was responding to a notice of allegations from the NCAA in March 2022.

Miles, who after two seasons at Kansas had a career record of 145-73, a .665 winning percentage, saw that mark drop to 108-73, giving him a career percentage of .597 — below the .600 required to qualify for the HOF.

Miles’ lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

“The LSU Defendants failed and refused to provide Plaintiff with notice and an opportunity to be heard, or with any other form of due process, before Defendants took from Plaintiff his eligibility for nomination to the College Football Hall of Fame by vacating 37 wins earned during Plaintiff’s career as Head Coach of the LSU Tigers football team,” the lawsuit read, in part.

Mile became eligible for the Hall of Fame in November when he turned 70.

Miles coached LSU from 2005-16, leading the Tigers to the BCS Championship after the 2007 season. He began his coaching career at Oklahoma State from 2001-04. Miles went 3-18 in two seasons at Kansas from 2019-20.

–Field Level Media