The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has enacted a new policy prohibiting athletes who have previously declared for professional drafts or signed with professional leagues from competing on its member university teams. The decision was made during a meeting with league presidents, athletic directors, and chancellors, and passed with a unanimous 16-0 vote.
The new rule prevents SEC institutions from having athletes on their rosters if they have declared for the NFL, NBA, or WNBA draft and did not officially withdraw, signed a contract with a professional team in these leagues, or appeared on a professional roster.
According to the conference's announcement, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is authorized to enforce this policy, with penalties for member institutions to be announced at a later date. The SEC stated that the movement of athletes between college and professional sports "blur[s] the line" between the two levels of competition and emphasized the need to advance the Protect College Sports Act.
This move by the SEC follows a similar announcement from the Big Ten Conference, which also plans to implement a rule barring players who have competed professionally from returning to its member schools. The Associated Press reported that the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Big 12 are also considering similar guidelines.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from some collegiate coaches. LSU head coach Lane Kiffin defended his recruitment of former professional players, citing ongoing legal injunctions that have allowed some players to regain eligibility. Kiffin stated that if his program doesn't recruit these athletes, other schools around the country will.