Big 12 Creates Rule to Ban Professional Athletes From Returning to College Sports

Joining the Big Ten and SEC, the Big 12 becomes the third conference within the Power Four to create an actual rule against athletes returning to college after trying to pursue a professional career.

This rule was force into existence after multiple players, who were about to be cut from their NFL teams, decided to exit and join a college team, most notably LSU. Lane Kiffin signed multiple of his former top Ole Miss players who were previously believed to be out of eligibility until a recent legal ruling granted an extra year to those in the Class of 2022.

“The Big 12 has unanimously adopted a conference rule barring Big 12 member institutions from fielding professional athletes in any conference sport,” the conference said in a statement released on Wednesday evening. “This rule will apply independently of the status of NCAA eligibility determinations.”

Also in the Big 12’s statement, the conference will not allow any program to have any athlete who has “declared for the draft or supplemental draft of any professional league and did not timely withdraw before the draft; been listed on the roster of a professional sports league; or signed a contract with any professional sports league to provide athletics services.”

This rule doesn’t just apply to football and the NFL, but also any sport and any athlete pursuing the NBA, WNBA etc.

The ACC has yet to announce a similar new rule, but is reportedly in the process of discussing the situation.

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