Big Ten programs facing major penalties if they violate new rule on NFL prohibition

The college football landscape is developing quickly after a rule allowed some players to return to the NCAA despite being on NFL rosters during minicamps and preseason. 

However, the Big Ten conference laid down the hammer. The conference announced on Tuesday a new rule that prevents players from going back to college after playing in the NFL. 

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, the rule states that players who declared for the NFL Draft and did not withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster or signed a contract with a professional league won't be eligible for a Big Ten roster. 

It was a unanimous decision by the conference, and Pete Nakos of On3 revealed the penalty for any school that violates the new policy. 

Big Ten will punish schools if they violate the new rule

"Violating the new Big Ten-NFL rule will result in a coach suspension of 50% of contests and an institutional fine," Nakos wrote.

Here is the official statement from the Big Ten conference.