SEC says it will fight Louisiana court order that opened door for ex-NFL players

Key Points:

• The SEC plans to challenge a temporary restraining order issued by a Baton Rouge judge that bars the conference from punishing schools signing former professional athletes, with a court hearing scheduled for Thursday.
• The restraining order prevents the SEC from enforcing its rule banning former NFL, NBA, and WNBA players from competing, a rule that carries severe penalties including coach suspensions and fines.
• LSU is at the center of the dispute, potentially rostered with multiple former professional players this fall, including recently waived NFL players who intend to join the team if the court order remains in place.
• The legal battle involves multiple plaintiffs and parallel cases, with similar restraining orders issued in Dallas and nearly 60 lawsuits challenging NCAA eligibility rules nationwide.
• The SEC maintains it will comply with the current court order but intends to defend its authority as a voluntary association to enforce eligibility rules protecting its member institutions.