Story perspectives

Big Ten Bans Former NFL Players From Football Rosters

8/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Big Ten Conference unanimously approved a rule banning former NFL players from returning to its football rosters.
SEC commissioners adopted a similar ban that also bars former NBA and WNBA players.
Violations suspend Big Ten coaches for half the remaining games, impose fines, and give SEC commissioner Greg Sankey sanction authority.
The bans follow a Louisiana judge’s restraining order that cleared Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to rejoin LSU.

History

Historical Context

After the NCAA was created in 1906 to curb unsafe college football, it adopted strict amateurism standards, culminating in the 1972 rule that barred former professionals—Walter Byers later estimated about 1,200 athletes were excluded in its first ten years. Today, the Big Ten and SEC, led by commissioner Greg Sankey, invoke that precedent to block NFL and WNBA players following a judge’s clearance of Dae’Quan Wright.

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Story summary

The Big Ten Conference unanimously approved a rule banning former NFL players from returning to its football rosters.
SEC commissioners adopted a similar ban that also bars former NBA and WNBA players.
Violations suspend Big Ten coaches for half the remaining games, impose fines, and give SEC commissioner Greg Sankey sanction authority.
The bans follow a Louisiana judge’s restraining order that cleared Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris to rejoin LSU.

1 / 2