[ON3] SEC will enforce rules around professional athletes returning to college sports
The SEC is officially taking action amid the latest eligibility controversy in college sports. The conference has joined the Big Ten in prohibiting players who have moved on to the NFL from returning to play college sports at an SEC school, but the league also said former NBA and WNBA players also cannot come back. Notre Dame has also said it agrees with the Big Ten and SEC, Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported.
The move – which was unanimous, according to Yahoo! Sports – comes as lawsuits around the country have opened the door for players who previously exhausted their eligibility to receive another season at the collegiate level. Some of those players have already spent time on NFL rosters before being released.
Now, the SEC is drawing a line regarding who can return to the college game by barring players who signed contracts in the NFL, NBA and WNBA. The conference said commissioner Greg Sankey has the authority to enforce the rule, according to a statement from the presidents, chancellors and ADs.
Following meetings with the presidents, chancellors, and athletics directors of the Southeastern Conference, the SEC will enforce the following policy: An SEC institution is NOT permitted to have an athlete on its roster who has:
Previously declared for the NFL, NBA, or WNBA DRAFT, and did not appropriately withdraw,
Signed a contract with an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate) team, or
Been listed on an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate roster).
“The commissioner is authorized to enforce this expectation with penalties against members institutions,” the statement from the SEC presidents, chancellors and athletic directors said Tuesday night.