Last week, a Louisiana state judge granted a temporary restraining order allowing a group of players who participated in NFL training camp and the preseason to return to college. Now, multiple FBS conferences, including all four power conferences and the American, are considering taking action to ensure these players cannot return to college.
The SEC and Big Ten are meeting separately Tuesday to discuss eligibility issues, Front Office Sports confirmed. Among the options they are considering is a conference-wide ban on players who did not withdraw from the NFL Draft, or participated in NFL training camps and/or preseason games, according to multiple reports. The ACC and Big 12 are reportedly having similar conversations.
In addition, the American is considering a similar conference-wide ban on NFL players, a source confirmed to FOS.
“Individuals who choose to leave college athletics, sign professional playing contracts, and compete professionally should not then be permitted to return to college competition, the SEC said in a statement Monday night. “Allowing that to occur will blur the line between college and professional sports, create significant competitive equity concerns, and reduce opportunities for high school and current college athletes.”
The lawsuit itself didn’t challenge the NCAA’s ban on professional athletes returning to college. Instead, it was one of many that have been filed to challenge the implementation of the NCAA’s new “age-based” eligibility policy, which would give players five years to complete five seasons (up from four) starting when they enter college or on their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
The NCAA declined to grandfather in players who joined college in 2022 and have already completed four years of eligibility—so players from that group have decided to sue in both state and federal court.
The Louisiana lawsuit challenged that implementation policy, and argued additionally that players never would have participated in NFL activities if they knew they would have a fifth year of eligibility. The judge ruled in their favor, granting the TRO that will extend until a hearing on Aug. 31, but said these players would have to terminate their NFL contracts and pay back any NFL money they made to return to college.
Most notably, Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright has secured a deal to play for LSU this fall after being waived this weekend. Wright will be the first player to go from participating in preseason games to college. His old teammate at Ole Miss, Zxavian Harris, also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, was signed by the New Orleans Saints this summer but was injured and never participated in preseason games; he was waived Aug. 8. He’s now signed with LSU as well. (As part of a separate lawsuit, Texas’s Cole Hutson was able to secure a return to the Longhorns despite participating in NFL training camps, but not being signed with a team.)
At this point, only players involved in this lawsuit (or who file their own separate state lawsuit) are eligible to go from NFL preseason back to college. And while other players are considering filing cases of their own, the situation is broadly considered to be a one-off given that it’s specifically about the freshman class of 2022, as FOS previously reported.
The conferences are likely also considering taking a stand given the similarly blurry lines in men’s basketball. Former St. John’s standout RJ Luis Jr. won an injunction Monday night to return to LSU, despite signing NBA contracts.
The road will likely be bumpy, however. Players may end up suing conferences in addition to the NCAA in future lawsuits to prevent them from enforcing these types of bans as well.
