The Southeastern Conference (SEC) enacted a rule on Tuesday preventing athletes drafted by NFL, NBA, or WNBA teams from rejoining college teams. This decision mirrors a similar measure taken by the Big Ten, which had earlier declared its policy regarding football players specifically.
The new regulations follow recent court orders that permitted players, formerly on professional rosters but later released, to return to college athletic programs. These changes underscore the firm stance of these major conferences amidst a sudden rise in professional athletes seeking to re-enter the college sports scene.
The SEC’s ruling has particular implications for Louisiana State University (LSU). Recently, LSU’s head coach Lane Kiffin added Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to the team. Both players, who had NFL tryouts over the summer but did not make the final rosters, face uncertainty with the new regulation.
The Big Ten had announced its decision earlier in the day, focusing solely on football. This distinction highlights the variation in approach between the two conferences.