The Big Ten and Southeastern conferences announced rule changes Tuesday that prevent players who have previously been with an NFL team from returning to play college football at one of their schools.
In the wake of a court order in Louisiana granting several undrafted free agents an unexpected fifth year of NCAA eligibility, the Big Ten’s athletic directors unanimously adopted a new rule Tuesday. Hours later, the SEC followed suit.
The SEC’s decision is especially notable because LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin added — or intended to add — multiple players waived by their NFL teams in training camp.
The Big Ten’s rule prohibits football players specifically from “maintaining eligibility for athletic competition at a conference institution” if they were ever on a professional roster or “declared for the NFL draft as an underclassman without withdrawing.”
“The conference continues to evaluate potential rules restricting professional athletes in other sports from conference competition,” the statement said.
According to CBS Sports, Big Ten coaches and schools can be punished if they ignore the new rule.
The SEC later announced its rule, a result of meetings with “the presidents, chancellors and athletic directors” of the conference.
That league’s rule covers not only players with any NFL ties but also basketball players who declared early for the NBA or WNBA draft, signed a contract in those leagues or the G League or other affiliates, or were ever listed on a professional roster.
“The commissioner is authorized to enforce this expectation with penalties against member institutions,” the SEC’s statement said.
Prior to the Big Ten revealing its rule change, the SEC’s presidents and chancellors released a joint statement saying athletes who have signed pro contracts “should not then be permitted” to return to college sports.
“College athletes, not former professional athletes, have been at the heart of the Southeastern Conference. 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 statement read.
“Allowing that to occur will blur the line between college and professional sports, create significant competitive equity concerns, and reduce opportunities for high school and current college athletes.”
Kiffin, in particular, aimed to take advantage of a judge’s ruling that granted a small pool of players another year of eligibility.
Tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who played for Kiffin at Ole Miss over the past two seasons, planned to join LSU once he cleared NFL waivers. Wright spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns this summer.
On Monday, former Ole Miss defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, who had been waived by the New Orleans Saints, revealed on his Instagram account that he intended to join Kiffin at LSU, labeling it a “business decision.”
Wright, Harris and 14 other players gained one additional year of NCAA eligibility thanks to a Louisiana court that granted them a temporary restraining order last week, allowing them to enter the transfer portal to keep their options open. The order is related to the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model, which allows five seasons within a five-year window and did not cover players from the high school Class of 2022 who had already exhausted their eligibility.
On Monday, Kiffin defended his plan to add the players.
“At the end of the day, because of these rulings, they’re either going to play for you or they’re going to play for someone else around the country,” Kiffin said.
–Field Level Media
