The SEC and Big Ten both approved policies to prevent pro players from returning to college amid the ongoing controversy regarding the Class of 2022 athletes.
The Big Ten Conference was the first to vote on the policy on Tuesday, and on the same day, the EC agreed to add a policy of their own.
As such, the SEC is set to hand down several punishments to any program that violates this policy, including the following:
- Half-season suspension for head coaches
- Fine of up to 50% of that sport’s annual operating budget
Sources to @CBSSports: Earlier this morning, the SEC finalized the following punishments for any program that tries to roster a player who previously signed a pro contract (and/or declared and didn’t formally withdraw) with the NFL, NBA, G League or WNBA, per bylaw 4.4.3 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/dLAxPwYZMy
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) August 26, 2026
As for the official policy, here was the release from the SEC on Tuesday.
Following meetings with the Presidents, Chancellors, and Athletics Directors of the Southeastern Conference, the SEC will enforce the following policy: pic.twitter.com/LohWnb7G1J
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) August 25, 2026
The rulings and injunctions given to the Class of 2022 players allowed them an extra year. In turn, that led several players who were on NFL rosters during training camp and the preseason to go back to college, including one Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie who had two sacks in a recent preseason game.
LSU Tigers coach Lane Kiffin has already recruited a few of these players, although he made it clear how he feels following the injunctions.
So far, the Big Ten and SEC have adopted the rule, and more conferences could be following suit in the near future.
