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Big Ten adopts rule banning NFL players from joining conference programs
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The Big Ten announced on Tuesday that its members have unanimously voted to adopt a rule banning professional players from joining their conference. According to a release by the Big Ten, “professional players” includes the following:
Football players who…
- have signed a professional contract.
- were on a professional roster at any point.
- declared for the NFL draft while an underclassman and did not withdraw from the draft.
As you can see above, the statement also says that the conference will continue to “evaluate potential rules restricting professional athletes in other sports from conference competition.” This, obviously, will have a major impact on college basketball rosters as the season is set to tip off in just a few months.
According to a report from On3Sports’s Pete Nakos, programs that violate this rule will receive a coach suspension for 50% of season contests, as well as an institutional fine.
The Big Ten is the first major conference to vote on a rule change to ban NFL players from playing once again at the college level, which is possible thanks to a round of legal battles over the NCAA’s recent adoption of a new eligibility model. The ACC and SEC are reportedly considering similar bans.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.