SEC’s fight to block former pros could decide how college football enforces rules
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The college football season got underway in Week 0, but off-field battles are still brewing. This time, an entire conference is fighting for the power to enforce its established rules regarding professional athletes returning to college athletics.
The SEC was told by a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, judge that the conference could not punish schools that sign former professional players. College football has done everything it can to draw a clear line between itself and professional sports.
Now, the SEC is getting ready to rumble. In court, of course. The SEC and Commissioner Greg Sankey will contest the ruling in court Thursday and are prepared to fight back.
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“The order entered against the SEC and Commissioner Sankey is a temporary restraining order, not a final ruling on the merits. The SEC and Commissioner Sankey are prepared to contest the allegations in the plaintiffs’ petition at Thursday morning’s hearing and defend the SEC’s rights as a voluntary association to fulfill its mission to its member institutions.” The SEC said in a statement via CBS Sports.
The eligibility chaos continues
Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris have both committed to the LSU Tigers through the transfer portal. While Harris spent only a short time with the New Orleans Saints, Wright saw game action with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns claimed Wright off waivers on August 11 and he appeared in preseason games.
Harris did not appear in any preseason contests, but he and Wright both declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. They also went through the full draft process and became undrafted free agents. After yet another bizarre ruling, both players regained their college eligibility and decided to enter the transfer portal.
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Both played at Ole Miss in 2025 under current LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin. In typical Kiffin fashion, he has been vocal in opposing the conference’s efforts to prevent the two players from playing.
The reality is that this has simply gone too far. When a player declares for the NFL Draft, that should undoubtedly end his college football career. Instead, we have reached a point where players are looking for a judge who will give them what they want.
There is no true merit to these rulings beyond arguments that are enough to get an injunction granted. The Brendan Sorsby case was just the beginning. If college sports cannot enforce their rules, what will be next?
The fate of this line in the sand could rest on the shoulders of the SEC.
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