SEC will enforce rules around professional athletes returning to college sports
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The SEC is officially taking action amid the latest eligibility controversy in college sports. The conference has joined the Big Ten in prohibiting players who have moved on to the NFL from returning to play college sports at an SEC school, but the league also said former NBA and WNBA players also cannot come back.
Notre Dame has also said it agrees with the Big Ten and SEC, Yahoo! Sports’Ross Dellenger reported. Additionally, Big 12 athletic directors met Tuesday and voiced unanimous support for a ban on professional athletes returning to play in the conference, per Yahoo! Sports. Formal policy is expected in the coming days.
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The SEC’s move – which was also unanimous, according to Yahoo! Sports – comes as lawsuits around the country have opened the door for players who previously exhausted their eligibility to receive another season at the collegiate level. Some of those players have already spent time on NFL rosters before being released.
Now, the SEC is drawing a line regarding who can return to the college game by barring players who signed contracts in the NFL, NBA and WNBA. The conference said commissioner Greg Sankey has the authority to enforce the rule, according to a statement from the presidents, chancellors and ADs.
“Following meetings with the presidents, chancellors, and athletics directors of the Southeastern Conference, the SEC will enforce the following policy: An SEC institution is NOT permitted to have an athlete on its roster who has:
- Previously declared for the NFL, NBA, or WNBA DRAFT, and did not appropriately withdraw,
- Signed a contract with an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate) team, or
- Been listed on an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate roster).
“The commissioner is authorized to enforce this expectation with penalties against members institutions,” the statement from the SEC presidents, chancellors and athletic directors said Tuesday night.
SEC follows Big Ten in barring former pro players to play in conference
The decision comes one day after the conference released a strong statement regarding professional athletes returning to college: “College athletes, not former professional athletes, have been at the heart of the Southeastern Conference,” the SEC’s statement read. “Individuals who choose to leave college athletics, sign professional playing contracts, and compete professionally should not then be permitted to return to college competition.”
The SEC also argued that allowing former professional players to return could create competitive equity issues while taking opportunities away from high school recruits and current college athletes.
“College sports are for college athletes,” the conference added. “The current confusion around national eligibility standards emphasizes the need to advance the Protect College Sports Act.”
Alas, the SEC’s decision follows a similar move from the Big Ten. ESPN’s Pete Thamelreported Tuesday that the Big Ten is set to pass a rule preventing players from returning from the NFL to play for one of its schools. Under the Big Ten’s rule, any player who declared for the NFL Draft and did not withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster or signed a contract with a professional league would be prohibited from joining a Big Ten roster.
The issue became increasingly complicated after a Louisiana court ruled that 16 players could return to college with eligibility for the 2026 season. Some of those players had already participated in NFL training camps before being released.
The ruling allowed those players to enter the transfer portal. The NCAA’s rule of restitution and ghost transfer rule were also enjoined as part of the order. Of all teams, LSU has been directly involved in two of the most notable cases.
Lane Kiffin and the Tigers recently landed former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright after he spent training camp with the Cleveland Browns before being released. Meanwhile, LSU basketball coach Will Wade and the Tigers secured a preliminary injunction allowing former St. John’s standout RJ Luis to play college basketball after spending time with the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics as an undrafted free agent in 2025.
The SEC had already made its stance clear Monday. Now, the conference is putting that position into action by preventing players who have moved on to professional sports from returning to SEC rosters.
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