Big Ten Conference bans pro football players from playing at any of its schools amid uproar over NCAA eligibility

The Big Ten became the first conference Tuesday to adopt a rule barring football players who have signed professional contracts from returning to play at its 18 member schools as college sports finds itself mired in lawsuits and chaotic disputes over eligibility.The move came a day after the agent for former Mississippi tight end Dae’Quan Wright said Wright could be heading to No. 11 LSU thanks to a state-level court order allowing him and others an unexpected fifth year of eligibility despite a NCAA rule change in June impacting players who graduated from high school in 2022. The NCAA is battling that one and other similar lawsuits around the country.The Big Ten said its administrators unanimously approved the rule to prohibit football players who have signed a professional contract, were on a professional roster at any point or declared for the NFL draft as an underclassman without withdrawing, from maintaining eligibility for athletic competition.

It did not rule out restrictions in other sports like basketball.A head coach who plays a former pro will be suspended 50% of the season and his school will be fined, the Big Ten confirmed.The topic is a hot one around college athletics. Wake Forest athletic director John Currie, chairman of the Atlantic Coast Conference ADs group for the upcoming season, said his colleagues planned to discuss the issue Wednesday.“I don’t think anybody in our league likes the idea of taking away opportunities from existing college students and graduating high school players, which is exactly what is happening when a school signs a player out of an NFL camp to their team,” Currie wrote in a text message to The Associated Press.Duke coach Manny Diaz said the Power Four conferences need to present a unified front. The Big 12 and Southeastern Conference have not announced steps, though the SEC ripped the potential for pros back in college in a statement late Monday.“I think you’ll see more leagues start to govern themselves since we’re having such a hard time finding it at a national level,” Diaz said.

“I think everyone understands it’s absolutely absurd. We can enjoy the fact that the players can benefit financially from playing in college now. At the same time, recognize the ultimate truth that we’re not a professional sports franchise.

We are a collegiate, scholastic school activity, and we’ve got to rein that in.”Agent Drew Ros… The Big Ten became the first conference Tuesday to adopt a rule prohibiting football players who have signed professional contracts from returning to play at its schools as college sports finds itself mired in lawsuits and disputes over eligibility.The matter came to a head Monday when the agent for former Mississippi tight end Dae’Quan Wright said Wright could be heading to LSU thanks to a state-level court order allowing him and others an unexpected fifth year of eligibility despite a NCAA rule change in June impacting players who graduated from high school in 2022. There are a number of lawsuits in dispute around the country.The Big Ten said that administrators unanimously approved the rule to prohibit football players who have signed a professional contract, were on a professional roster at any point or declared for the NFL draft as an underclassman without withdrawing, from maintaining eligibility for athletic competition at a conference institution.

It did not rule out restrictions in other sports like basketball.Wake Forest athletic director John Currie, chairman of the Atlantic Coast Conference ADs group for the upcoming season, said his colleagues plan to discuss the issue in Wednesday’s regularly scheduled call.“I don’t think anybody in our league likes the idea of taking away opportunities from existing college students and graduating high school players, which is exactly what is happening when a school signs a player out of an NFL camp to their team,” Currie wrote in a text message to The Associated Press.Duke coach Manny Diaz said the Power Four conferences need to present a unified front. The Big 12 and Southeastern Conference have not announced steps they could take or returned messages seeking comment, though the SEC ripped the potential for pros back in college in a statement late Monday.“I think you’ll see more leagues start to govern themselves since we’re having such a hard time finding it at a national level,” Diaz said. (AP) — Big Ten Conference bans pro football players from playing at any of its schools amid uproar over NCAA eligibility.