Badgers won’t have any former NFL players on their roster in 2026

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College football has taken its latest turn, as reports came out last week that the LSU Tigers are expected to bring in two players who signed NFL contracts this offseason and had been in training camp: Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright and New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Zxavian Harris.

It is a wild turn of events, as they are both currently eligible to return thanks to a court order that is allowing athletes an unexpected fifth year of eligibility. Players are able to regain eligibility by terminating their pro contracts and repaying any earnings they got while pro.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin defended the move, saying that players are ‘either going to play for you or they’re going to play for someone else around the country,‘ according to ESPN. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day also acknowledged that the Buckeyes would at least have to consider the possibility.

Will the Wisconsin Badgers give the idea a thought? If it was previously even an option on the table, not anymore.

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the Big Ten is set to pass a rule Tuesday that stops players returning from the NFL from playing for one of its schools. That includes players who have declared for the NFL Draft and did not withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster, or signed a contract with a pro team.

The rule was unanimously approved by Big Ten Athletic Directors, but will only be formally established once voted in by the conference’s Faculty Athletic Representatives.

We’ll see if other conferences follow suit, but it seems like the Big Ten, and therefore Wisconsin, will not be partaking in the action.

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