LSU Student Alleges Rape by Football Player, Says University Prioritized Athletics Over Her

Kendall Francis, a first-generation student at Louisiana State University, says she was sexually assaulted by an LSU football player after meeting him in a dorm on October 18, 2025. Francis alleges the encounter left her in shock; she says LSU Police took her to a hospital where she spent about seven hours and underwent a rape kit.

What Francis Says Happened

Francis went public in a TikTok video on September 14, describing the alleged assault and its effect on her mental health. In that video she said the incident left her with severe anxiety, prescribed medication and the need for an emotional support animal. She also says the player's mother texted her asking that she not press charges and that the player sent her $1,000, which she describes as hush money.

"I was raped by a football player at LSU last year in October, October 18th to be exact, at around 4:30 in the morning," Francis said in the video. "That day basically changed my life."

Campus Title IX Process

Francis says she initially pursued LSU's internal Title IX process, beginning with an initial report in December and filing a formal complaint in January 2026. She describes the campus investigation as lengthy and repeatedly delayed, saying extensions were attributed to the student-athlete and to LSU rather than to her.

According to Francis, the university ultimately found the player responsible for rape but imposed a one-year suspension. She says the player admitted on the record during the Title IX hearing. After an appeal, Francis says she was notified while in class that the appeal upheld the finding of responsibility but allowed the player to continue participating in football and campus organizations.

Federal and Criminal Follow-Up

The case moved beyond campus proceedings after Francis said she decided to pursue criminal charges. The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office opened a criminal investigation. District Attorney Hillar Moore confirmed a prior campus-level investigatory and review process and said both LSU Police and the Baton Rouge Police Department have information relevant to the case. As of this report, no criminal charges have been filed publicly against the player.

Allegations of Poor Treatment and Victim-Blaming

Francis has described feeling dismissed by university personnel during interviews and visits to the LSU Police Department. She said a one-hour-and-a-half interview with campus investigators included victim-blaming, and that LSU PD staff delayed helping her and initially failed to provide her file number without prompting. She also said she disabled comments on her videos after receiving harassment.

Impact and Next Steps

Francis says the campus outcome and the appeal decision worsened her anxiety and changed how she approaches classes because she fears encountering the player. She urged other survivors to come forward and offered her direct messages to those who want to share their experiences. The criminal investigation is ongoing, and the outcome will depend on the findings of local prosecutors and law enforcement.

Notes on Reporting

The identity of the football player has not been made public. This article reports Francis's allegations and the existence of a campus finding and subsequent appeal as described by her and by local officials; it does not assert guilt or criminal liability. The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office and LSU authorities have been reported as having relevant records; no public criminal charges were reported at the time of publication.