Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 approve ban on pro players returning to college to play; ACC considering move
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The ACC is considering banning former professional athletes from returning to college sports, following recent similar policies adopted by the Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12 conferences.
- The Big Ten unanimously passed a rule making underclassmen who declared for the NFL Draft and signed pro contracts ineligible for college play, with penalties including coach suspensions and institutional fines.
- The SEC expanded the ban to include both football and basketball, granting its commissioner broad authority to enforce penalties, while Notre Dame has indicated it will follow suit.
- The Big 12 adopted a similar policy prohibiting former professional athletes from competing in all sports, amid concerns raised by recent cases of NFL players returning to college football.
- These moves may lead to legal challenges against the conferences themselves, as they establish enforcement mechanisms and penalties for violations, with the ACC's decision on the matter still pending.
