Sources: SEC to suspend coaches who add pros

Sources: SEC to suspend coaches who add pros --> Skip to main content Skip to navigation MenuESPN scores NFLNBAMLBSoccerWNBANHLNCAAFMore SportsBoxingNCAACricketF1GamingGolfHorseLLWSMMANASCARNLLNBA G LeagueNBA Summer LeagueNCAAMNCAAWNWSLOlympicsPLLRacingRN BBRN FBRugbyBananasSports BettingTGLTennisUFLMen's World CupWWEProfessional WrestlingEditionsWhere to WatchFantasyWatch NCAAFHomeScoresScheduleStandingsStatsTeamsRankingsRecruitingWhere To WatchFootball Power IndexTotal QBRSP+ RankingsPlayer RankingsFuturesOddsCFP BracketCollege GameDayClass RankingsAwardsSEC NetworkTickets Sources: SEC to suspend coaches who add prosLSU Tigers2hMark SchlabachBig Ten rewards Petitti with five-year extension1hJake TrotterSources: NCAA defectors can't play in NFL in '26LSU Tigers3hSources: No. 1 recruit Brewster to stay with TTUTexas Tech Red Raiders15mEli LedermanQB Castellanos commits to Texas Tech for 5th yearTexas Tech Red Raiders2hBig Ten officially bans NFL players from returnLSU Tigers1dKiffin pushes back on eligibility double standardLSU Tigers1dDavid HaleTrust issues, high hopes and the safest schools: Ranking all 138 FBS teams in tiersIndiana Hoosiers12dDavid HaleCollege football Player Rank: The top 100 players ahead of the 2026 seasonNew Mexico Lobos12hESPN2026 CFB Player Rank: Dante Moore snubbed? 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Sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel that the SEC's chancellors and presidents voted 15-0 to confirm the penalties, with LSU abstaining from voting. The vote to approve the new policy banning pro athletes from returning to the SEC was approved by a 16-0 vote. ACC athletic directors met Wednesday, and there's momentum for the ACC to join the SEC and Big Ten in banning players from returning from the NFL, sources told ESPN. The ACC would still need to pass a few more steps, including board approval. But sources indicated that there's momentum that the ACC will join the SEC and Big Ten. The goal is for the ACC board to meet and vote in the next 24 hours, according to sources. The SEC joined the Big Ten on Tuesday in its unanimous opposition to athletes leaving the NFL and returning to college teams, swiftly passing a new conference rule that gives Sankey full authority to enforce it "with penalties." During an in-person meeting with league presidents, chancellors and athletic directors, the SEC took it even further than the Big Ten, prohibiting anyone who has previously declared for professional basketball from rejoining college athletics without appropriately withdrawing. With a step-by-step explanation, the SEC announced its institutions are "not permitted" to have an athlete on their rosters who has: Previously declared for the NFL, NBA or WNBA draft and did not appropriately withdraw.Signed a contract with an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G League, or WNBA (or affiliate) team.Been listed on an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G League, or WNBA (or affiliate) roster.The announcement stated Sankey "is authorized to enforce this expectation with penalties against member institutions." An SEC spokesperson later told ESPN that penalties are "to be announced." The flurry of activity from the SEC came after former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright cleared waivers with the Cleveland Browns so he can return to college and play for the LSU Tigers in what would be his fifth season of college eligibility. Wright's highly publicized situation is unprecedented, but it stood to become part of a trend this year because of an ongoing legal fight between the NCAA and athletes who are pursuing a fifth year. Wright dressed for the Browns' preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday but didn't play. He was waived Monday and went unclaimed by Tuesday's deadline. He is currently available in the NCAA transfer portal after a judge in Louisiana granted him a temporary restraining order and an opportunity to return to college for a fifth year. Another athlete, star basketball player RJ Luis Jr., received a temporary injunction to play for LSU this season from a Louisiana judge Monday despite having signed multiple NBA contracts. School officials at LSU did not immediately return requests for comment. It's unclear if LSU football coach Lane Kiffin and men's basketball coach Will Wade will continue to pursue these players in violation of the new conference rules, let the courts decide or part ways in compliance with the conference. Ryan Downton, a Texas-based attorney who represents Wright and other clients impacted by the Louisiana court ruling, criticized the SEC's new policy. "The SEC's actions put the NCAA in contempt of multiple court orders," Downton said in a statement. "It is cartel-like conduct when NCAA conferences attempt to create their own spur of the moment rules in response to Courts enjoining those same rules at the NCAA level."

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Source: ESPN

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