The Big Ten conference has taken a firm stance by unanimously voting to prohibit players who have signed professional contracts, been on a professional roster, or declared for the NFL Draft as underclassmen without withdrawing, from returning to college football. This rule aims to prevent athletes from moving between NFL activities and college sports, responding directly to a recent Louisiana judge’s temporary restraining order that allows some players to return to college after participating in NFL training camps or preseason games. The SEC quickly followed with a similar ban not only on football players but also on basketball players moving from the NBA or WNBA back to collegiate competition.

Other major conferences, including the ACC, Big 12, and American Athletic Conference, are considering comparable restrictions, reflecting growing concerns about the integrity of college eligibility rules amid ongoing legal challenges. The Louisiana lawsuit that triggered last week’s court ruling primarily disputes the NCAA’s new “age-based” eligibility policy, which adjusted the timeframe players have to complete their college eligibility. The court permitted certain players like Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who played in the NFL preseason, to join college teams like LSU, provided they terminate NFL contracts and repay earnings.

The Big Ten’s new regulation allows some exceptions for players who completed four years of eligibility and entered the NFL Draft through the automatic process without signing a contract or roster spot—such players remain eligible if they only participated in rookie mini-camps without signing pro contracts. Meanwhile, the SEC’s policy is stricter, banning any players who signed contracts or appeared on rosters in the NFL, NBA, or WNBA, thereby threatening LSU’s ability to field players like Wright and other recent signees from professional ranks.

The enforcement of these bans is expected to face legal resistance from affected athletes, who may sue conferences alongside the NCAA to maintain eligibility rights. Attorneys representing players like Wright insist the recent court order supports their clients’ right to play. As the landscape unfolds, conferences may also extend similar policies to other sports. This evolving legal and regulatory drama highlights the tensions between college sports governance and the increasing professionalization of young athletes.