The Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren's Bold Move: SEC Joins Forces to Ban NFL Players from Returning to College Football
The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference (SEC) have taken a significant step in banning former NFL players from participating in college football, a move that could have far-reaching implications for the sport.
On Tuesday, the Big Ten became the first conference to approve a ban on former NFL players pursuing a fifth year of eligibility within their league. The SEC followed suit later in the day, announcing its new policy in a statement.
The Big Ten's decision was unanimous, with athletic directors and faculty athletics representatives approving the ban. The SEC also voted unanimously, with sources telling CBS Sports that LSU's athletic director Verge Ausberry was in support of the move. The Big Ten's ban includes players who signed a professional contract, were on a professional roster, or declared for the NFL draft without withdrawing.
The ban is modeled on the NCAA's ghost transfer rule, which bans coaches from 50% of games and carries a financial penalty on the school equal to 20% of its football budget. The Big Ten's commissioner, Kevin Warren, has made it clear that the conference will enforce the ban swiftly and decisively.
The SEC's decision to ban former NFL players from participating in college football is a significant move, especially considering the growing number of players seeking to return to school and utilize recent court rulings allowing them to play up to five seasons within a five-year span. The NCAA approved this measure in 2023, but only for the class of 2023 and later.
The Big 12 is also considering a similar ban, and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is set to meet Wednesday to discuss the subject. The move by the Big Ten and SEC could signal a shift towards individual conference-wide rules and enforcement, separate from the NCAA.
LSU has been at the center of the recent controversy after Lane Kiffin secured commitments from two former NFL players. However, it remains to be seen whether Kiffin will vote alongside his SEC colleagues to ban those players from participating in the SEC.
Lane Kiffin expressed his concerns about the issue, stating, "I don't think professionals should come back to college sports and college football. But in this instance, these are not players who have gone on to play seasons professionally or randomly filed an injunction. This is part of a specific class that was ruled wrong by the NCAA that was supposed to be [five years to play five seasons]."
The SEC has urged Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act in September to better protect itself from such developments. However, the league is moving forward with individual conference-wide rules and enforcement, signaling a potential shift towards self-governance.
The lawsuits that could follow from players seeking to circumvent these rules may have little impact, at least within the Big Ten, given the unanimous approval among the 18 schools. The power conference head coach told CBS Sports, "The lawsuits are circumventing the NCAA, but now when the league says you can't do it, now you're dealing with problems with your conference."
The move by the Big Ten and SEC could have far-reaching implications for the sport, potentially leading to a new era of self-governance and individual conference-wide rules and enforcement. The story is far from over, with the ACC set to meet Wednesday to discuss the subject and the Big 12 considering a similar ban.
Source: CBS