Big Ten to Block NFL Returnees
Big Ten to implement rule preventing NFL players from returning to college football amid eligibility chaos
The update
The Big Ten Conference is set to pass a rule Tuesday that doesn’t allow players to return from the NFL and play for one of its schools. Any player who has declared for the NFL draft and did not withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster or signed a contract with a pro league cannot be on a Big Ten roster. The rule will take effect immediately upon passage.
Why it matters
This move comes in the wake of two NFL players parting with their teams to join Lane Kiffin’s roster at LSU. The Big Ten’s decision could set a precedent for how other conferences handle the growing issue of professional athletes returning to college eligibility, potentially creating a divide in how different Power Five conferences approach player eligibility rules.
What to watch
Whether the SEC will follow the Big Ten’s lead after its presidents issued a strong statement against ex-pros in college football. How the NCAA responds to the Big Ten’s unilateral action amid its own concerns about court rulings granting fifth-year eligibility. The potential legal challenges to this conference-specific policy.
Sources
- espn.com — confirming details of the Big Ten rule being passed
- College Sports Wire — additional context on the conference's decision