BIRMINGHAM — The Southeastern Conference voted 16-0 to ban athletes from returning to college sports if they have professional experience. The Big Ten Conference unanimously approved a ban on former professional football players returning to member schools.

The SEC policy prohibits member schools from fielding athletes who declared for professional drafts without properly withdrawing, signed professional contracts, or appeared on a professional league roster. The ban applies to the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and their affiliate leagues such as the NBA G-League. The Big Ten ban applies to players who signed a professional contract, appeared on a professional roster, or declared for the NFL Draft without withdrawing.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is authorized to enforce the new policy with penalties against member institutions. Penalties for SEC teams signing ineligible players include a half-season suspension for the head coach, a cut of half the team's annual operating budget, and revocation of the school's SEC voting privileges on business matters. Big Ten coaches who violate the ban on former professional players will be suspended for 50% of their team's remaining games. Schools violating the Big Ten ban will be fined.

The ACC and Big 12 conferences are discussing similar bans on former professional players. LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry voted in favor of the SEC ban despite LSU head coach Lane Kiffin's recruitment of former NFL players. Lane Kiffin is the head football coach at LSU.

Lane Kiffin recruited former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright after Wright was released by the Cleveland Browns. Lane Kiffin recruited defensive tackle Zxavian Harris for LSU. Kiffin said he does not think professionals should come back to college sports and college football, adding that a court order had been issued.

Dae'Quan Wright signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. Dae'Quan Wright was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns on August 11, 2026. Zxavian Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints after the 2026 NFL Draft. Zxavian Harris was waived by the New Orleans Saints on August 8, 2026.

Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris sued the NCAA in Louisiana seeking a fifth year of eligibility. A Louisiana judge granted Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris temporary restraining orders allowing them to return to college for a fifth season. The NCAA passed a rule in June 2026 allowing athletes to play five seasons over a five-year span.

A federal judge in Colorado ruled in favor of the high school class of 2022 in a lawsuit filed by Brock Wisne, granting them a fifth year of eligibility. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay pausing the federal court order that granted eligibility to the class of 2022. At least 26 eligibility cases have been filed in state and county courts across the U.S. Judges have granted restraining orders or injunctions favoring players in at least 10 state court eligibility cases.

Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt were added to Indiana University's football roster after a Colorado court ruling granted them fifth-year eligibility. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals stay halted the eligibility of Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt at Indiana University. Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt suffered season-ending injuries in the 2025 season.

Why It Matters

The unanimous votes by the SEC and Big Ten establish a coordinated conference-level response to a wave of litigation that has bypassed NCAA authority. With at least 26 eligibility cases filed in state and county courts and judges granting favorable rulings in at least 10 instances, conferences are asserting direct control over roster composition to mitigate legal uncertainty. The President issued an Executive Order titled 'Urgent National Action To Save College Sports' in 2026 to protect college sports from lawsuits, adding federal pressure to the issue.

The financial and competitive stakes for member institutions are severe under the new policies. SEC schools face potential loss of half their annual operating budget and voting privileges, while Big Ten programs risk significant coaching suspensions and fines. The SEC urged Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act in September 2026, indicating that legislative solutions remain a priority alongside internal enforcement mechanisms.

What's New

The President issued an Executive Order titled 'Urgent National Action To Save College Sports' in 2026 to protect college sports from lawsuits. Lane Kiffin said he does not think professionals should come back to college sports and college football. A power conference head coach said the lawsuits are circumventing the NCAA, but now that the league says players can't return, schools are dealing with conference-level problems.