The Big Ten Conference just dropped a bombshell rule, unanimously approved by its athletic directors, that’s going to flip college football on its head. Players who declared for the NFL draft and didn’t withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster, or played in another professional league are now banned from playing in the conference. This isn’t some minor tweak; this is a direct shot at a trend we’ve seen exploding recently.
The Line in the Sand is Drawn
This rule comes right after a bunch of players who suited up on NFL rosters this summer decided to head back to school. We’re talking about 16 players in Louisiana who even got temporary restraining orders just to play a fifth college season after graduating high school in 2022. Lane Kiffin, for example, just scooped up three former Ole Miss Rebels,tight end Dae’Quan Wright, defensive tackle Zxavian Thomas, and safety Wydatt Williams,to his LSU squad this month. These guys played for him last season! The SEC, for their part, also weighed in big time on Monday night, saying “College athletes, not former professional athletes, have been at the heart of the Southeastern Conference.” They believe allowing pro players back blurs the line, creates significant competitive equity concerns, and cuts opportunities for high school and current college athletes. The SEC is pushing hard for the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, a federal bill designed to set guardrails regarding name, image, and likeness, and college eligibility.
Our Guy Caught in the Crossfire
But here’s where it hits home for us in the Emerald City: former Oregon State Beavers running back Anthony Hankerson. This dude was just waived by *our* Seattle Seahawks after playing for them in the NFL preseason. Now, Hankerson was expected to return to college, but if he was looking at a Big Ten school, this new rule throws a serious wrench in those plans. This is a battle for the soul of college sports, and our former Seahawk is caught right in the middle of it. What’s next for Hankerson? We’ll be watching to see how this shakes out. The stakes are getting higher for college athletes with professional experience, and the landscape is shifting fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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