SEC and Big Ten Move to Ban Former Professional Athletes
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Power conferences implement strict penalties to prevent NFL, NBA, and WNBA players from returning to college ranks.
The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference (SEC) have unanimously approved rules to prohibit former professional athletes from returning to college sports, according to CBS Sports.
On Tuesday, the Big Ten became the first conference to enact such a ban, specifically targeting former NFL players seeking a fifth year of eligibility. The policy applies to any player who signed a professional contract, was on a professional roster, or entered the NFL Draft without withdrawing. Penalties for violations are modeled after the NCAA's ghost transfer rule, which includes banning coaches from 50% of games and fining schools 20% of their football budgets.
Following a meeting at its Birmingham, Alabama, headquarters, the SEC also announced a ban, which extends to players from the NFL, NBA, and WNBA. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has been granted wide-ranging authority to determine punishments. The move comes as LSU, under head coach Lane Kiffin and athletic director Verge Ausberry, considered adding former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Harris and defensive tackle ZXavian Harris to its roster.
These decisions follow legal uncertainty and court rulings that allowed some players to seek a fifth year of eligibility. While the NCAA permitted a five-season window for the Class of 2023 and later, players from the Class of 2022 have filed lawsuits for similar access.
CBS Sports reports that the ACC is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss the issue, while the Big 12 is currently considering a similar ban. Furthermore, the SEC urged Congress to enact the Protect College Sports Act this September. The shift toward conference-level enforcement suggests the Big Ten and SEC may be moving toward a self-governance model independent of the NCAA.