Big Ten’s New Rule: No Reentry for NFL Drafted Players

A recent decision by a Louisiana judge to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) has sparked significant discussion in the college football world. The order allows a group of NFL rookies an additional year of eligibility to return to college football. In response, one major conference is taking action.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel has reported that the Big Ten conference plans to introduce a rule prohibiting players who have been on NFL rosters from returning to play in their schools. The rule will impact those players who have either declared for the NFL draft, appeared on an NFL roster, or signed contracts with a professional league.

Sources: The Big Ten is set to pass a rule today that doesn’t allow players to return from the NFL and play for a Big Ten school,” Thamel reported on X. “Anyone who has declared for the NFL Draft and did not withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster or signed a contract with a pro league cannot be on a Big Ten roster.

Several players have already benefited from the judge’s ruling and have agreed to join college teams again. They include Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright and New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Zxavian Harris joining LSU. Four others, including Seattle Seahawks running backs TJ Harden and Anthony Hankerson, Arizona Cardinals safety Wydett Williams Jr., and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Jack Pyburn, have also been granted additional eligibility.

The topic is controversial among college coaches. Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Ohio State’s Ryan Day have publicly expressed concerns about the impact of allowing players to return to college football after brief stints in the NFL.

Lanning is particularly concerned about how such changes affect team rosters. He states, “I think there’s a lot of negatives that are involved around this. One, once you go to the NFL, to me, you’re in the NFL. You don’t get the opportunity to come back.” He emphasizes that allowing players back disrupts team dynamics and is unfair to players who have spent time preparing to be part of the team.

Day also believes that conference rules should prevent teams from gaining an unfair advantage by bringing back players from NFL rosters. “In my opinion, the conferences have to decide if there’s a point where their rosters have to be locked in,” Day said. He stresses that decisions must be made to maintain fair competition and respect for current team members.