A Dallas judge has ruled that the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) cannot prevent a group of 41 athletes from returning to college sports for a fifth season of eligibility. The order, signed on Thursday, prohibits the conferences from punishing schools for signing the named plaintiffs.
Among the athletes listed on the restraining order are Cowboys wide receiver Jordan Hudson and Kansas City Chiefs players Wesley Bissainthe and Omari Evans. Christeen Iwuala and Bailey Maupin, who have signed WNBA contracts, are also included in the order.
Judge Martin Hoffman stated in his ruling that athletes are eligible to play their fifth year if they would have been eligible to continue playing college sports in the following semester had they not pursued professional opportunities. Any attempt to block a plaintiff for reasons other than this eligibility requirement would necessitate a court argument.
This judicial decision comes after all four major conferences voted to establish similar rules that would bar universities from allowing athletes who have signed professional contracts to compete. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) recently passed a unanimous vote to implement such a resolution. This resolution applies to players who declared for professional drafts without withdrawing, signed contracts with professional leagues, or are currently listed on a professional roster in football, basketball, or the WNBA.
The ACC stated that its action aims to preserve college sports as a distinct opportunity for student-athletes, separate from professional sports, while protecting competitive equity and opportunities for current and future student-athletes.