Big 12 Becomes Latest Conference to Ban Former NFL Players While NFL Reiterates Its Rules
The move follows similar bans by the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference as conferences try to stop roster uncertainty from court-driven eligibility changes.
- Big 12 athletic directors unanimously agreed Wednesday to ban professional athletes from returning to schools in the conference across all sports, preventing players who signed pro contracts from rejoining college rosters.
- The Big Ten and SEC implemented identical bans on Tuesday, while NFL executive Troy Vincent reiterated that players returning to college remain ineligible for the NFL until 2027.
- Cleveland Browns' Dae'Quan Wright and New Orleans Saints' Zxavian Harris exited training camps to re-enter the NCAA transfer portal, seeking to rejoin coach Lane Kiffin at LSU after both played for him at Ole Miss.
- Shortly after the Big 12 decision, quarterback Tommy Castellanos committed to Texas Tech; Castellanos was among 10 athletes granted a temporary restraining order by a Kentucky judge seeking a fifth season of eligibility.
- Atlantic Coast Conference leaders are also discussing similar bans as the legal landscape surrounding NCAA eligibility remains volatile. "This story is far from over," ESPN's Pete Thamel noted.
32 Articles
32 Articles
Big 12 approves ban on pros returning to college in all sports
On Wednesday evening, ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news that the Big 12 approved a ban barring pro athletes from returning to collegiate athletics. It was a unanimous decision made by the athletic directors. The Big 12 follows suit after the Big Ten and SEC finalized similar bans in their respective conferences throughout the day on Tuesday. In an official statement put out by the Big 12, three rules will decide if a player can take the field: …
Big 12 joins SEC, Big Ten in stance against pro athletes returning to college
A third power conference has joined the SEC and Big Ten in barring former professional athletes from returning to the college game. The Big 12 announced late Wednesday that it has “unanimously adopted” such a rule. Unlike the other conferences,…
Big 12 ADs Reportedly Ban Pros from Returning to School After Big Ten, SEC Rule Changes
Big 12 athletic directors agreed to ban professional athletes from returning to schools in the conference across all sports on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
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