LSU Tigers News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

SEC adopts strict policy amid influx of pro players trying to return to college

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Add us as a preferred source on Google

SEC adopts strict policy amid influx of pro players trying to return to college

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Aug 25, 2026 9:06 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

The SEC is aiming to keep the college in college sports.

On Tuesday, the SEC announced that teams are prohibited from adding players who previously declared for the NFL, NBA or WNBA Drafts and didn't withdraw within the allowed timeframe. Those who signed a contract in those leagues and their affiliates are also barred from competing. The decision was approved in a unanimous 16-0 vote among university presidents, chancellors and athletic directors.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Big Ten unanimously approved a similar measure, banning active NFL players from joining teams in the conference. The Big 12 is expected to follow suit on Wednesday or Thursday, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have reportedly told the SEC and Big Ten that they are not planning to sign pro players. The ACC, meanwhile, will discuss this matter later this week.

This comes after the Cleveland Browns waived former Ole Miss Rebels tight end Dae'Quan Wright on Sunday, setting the stage for him to join the LSU Tigers. He's believed to be the first NFL player to try to return to college.

Per multiple ESPN sources, the SEC vote was 16-0. https://t.co/qdwNa9Orpa
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 25, 2026

Notre Dame officials have communicated to both the SEC and Big Ten that the school is aligned with the prohibition on signing players who have been part of professional organizations, sources tell @YahooSports.

The Irish are adamantly opposed to adding pro players.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 25, 2026

Big 12 athletic directors met earlier Tuesday and are in unanimous support of a ban on professional players returning to compete in the conference, sources tell @YahooSports.

The league is expected to finalize the policy in the next 24-36 hours.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 25, 2026

How can SEC enforce this ruling?

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey now wields significant power after this vote. He can bar a school from competing, deem players ineligible and suspend coaches and administrators for failing to follow it, per Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

SEC presidents granted Greg Sankey "full and unlimited authority," which includes suspending a school from competition, sources tell @YahooSports.

In addition to that, league bylaws grant the commissioner powers to deem a player ineligible, suspend coaches/administrators, etc. https://t.co/P3yUKZarbT
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 25, 2026

Sankey and the SEC may have to go to court after this ruling. Last week, a Louisiana judge granted 33 former college athletes a temporary injunction to regain their college eligibility and enter the transfer portal for one week. Wright was among those in the suit. Ryan Downton, one of the attorneys in the case, told Dellenger his team is mulling its next steps and will hold the conference accountable for "cartel-like coordination with the NCAA."

Separately, Downtown says attorneys are considering “the appropriate legal response to hold the Big Ten and SEC accountable for their cartel-like coordination with the NCAA.”

It is clear that attorneys are poised to file legal challenges against the two conferences.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 26, 2026

In the meantime, applaud Sankey and others for trying to prevent things from spinning further out of control. LSU is, perhaps, the worst offender, adding multiple players who've already spent time in the pros.

Along with former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and Wright, LSU agreed to a deal with former Boston Celtics/Utah Jazz guard RJ Luis to have him play for its men's basketball team this upcoming season. He didn't play in games for either NBA team but was on the roster this past season.

LSU now has two former NFL players and a former NBA player expected to go back to college and play for them.

• RJ Luis, Celtics
• Dae’Quan Wright, Browns
• Zxavian Harris, Saints pic.twitter.com/RxjSQ1cYw6
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) August 25, 2026

If the conferences continued to sit back and do nothing, more schools would've tried the same thing, which could have a disastrous effect on the development of younger players, damaging college sports.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: