NFL says players who return to college will be ineligible to play in 2026 as ACC, Big 12 weigh topic
Summary
The NFL announced that players who leave the league to return to college football will be ineligible to play in the 2026 NFL season and would become free agents in 2027. Meanwhile, some college conferences like the SEC and Big Ten have banned former NFL players from playing college football, and the ACC and Big 12 are discussing similar rules.Key Facts
- The NFL confirmed players who return to college after being on NFL rosters will not be allowed to play in the 2026 NFL season.
- Such players would become free agents for the 2027 NFL season instead of rejoining the league in 2026.
- The Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Big Ten conferences have banned players who have been on NFL rosters from playing college football.
- The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Big 12 are currently considering similar bans.
- Two players, Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents, want to return to LSU to play college football.
- NCAA allowed a recent rule change giving players starting college in 2023 five years to play five seasons, but it does not apply to players like Wright and Harris who started earlier.
- Some players have sued the NCAA arguing they are unfairly excluded from the new rule and lose potential educational and financial opportunities.
- Cal football general manager Ron Rivera supports conferences enforcing bans on players returning to college after going pro.
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