Judge Blocks SEC From Banning Pro Athletes
Judge blocks SEC from stopping athletes with professional experience from returning to college sports.
The update
A Dallas judge signed an order Thursday prohibiting the NCAA, SEC and commissioner Greg Sankey from stopping a group of athletes with professional experience from returning to college sports for one more season. The ruling specifically blocks the SEC from punishing schools that sign players who have previously been on professional rosters. Current NFL players Jordan Hudson, Wesley Bissainthe and Omari Evans are among the 41 plaintiffs named in the order, along with former student-athletes from men’s and women’s college basketball.
Why it matters
This legal intervention challenges the authority of the NCAA and conferences to set eligibility rules, potentially creating a pathway for professional athletes to return to college competition. The ruling specifically states that the NCAA, SEC and Sankey cannot block the players’ return based on transfer portal rules or their time on a pro roster. It also states that if any of those groups want to prohibit any of the plaintiffs for a different reason, they would need to come to court and argue their case in front of the judge.
What to watch
How the SEC and NCAA will respond to this legal challenge; whether other conferences will be affected by this ruling; which athletes might take advantage of this opportunity to return to college sports; whether this sets a precedent for future eligibility cases.
Sources
- espn.com — Details on the judge's order and affected athletes
- USA TODAY Sports — Information on SEC's new eligibility rules being blocked