SEC to issue harsh punishments for teams that add former pro athletes

The SEC has settled on some harsh punishments for any member schools that sign a former professional player to its roster going forward, according to multiple reports on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

The conference unanimously passed ruling to ban former professional players from returning to college on Aug. 25, following a vote. Teams in violation of the SEC's new rules against former professional athletes returning to college will receive the following penalties:

50% of season suspension for head coaches

50% of that sport's annual operating budget

SEC voting privileges revoked on some matters

It's a gloves-off approach for the SEC, which is taking a hard stance against players entering the professional ranks before attempting to change their minds and return to college. The ruling comes amid multiple former NFL signees attempting returns to college football after gaining an extra season of eligibility, thanks to a temporary restraining order ruling in Louisiana state court this offseason.

"College athletes, not former professional athletes, have been at the heart of the Southeastern Conference ," the SEC's statement read on Aug. 25. "Individuals who choose to leave college athletics, sign professional playing contracts, and compete professionally should not then be permitted to return to college competition.

"Allowing that to occur will blur the line between college and professional sports, create significant competitive equity concerns, and reduce opportunities for high school and current college athletes."

The Big Ten was the first Power Four conference to agree on rules against the situation, which has gained attention after LSU has added former Ole Miss standouts Dae'Quan Wright and Xzavian Harris, who both signed NFL contracts as undrafted free agents. The two players played under head coach Lane Kiffin for the Rebels, and gained extra seasons due to the court decision, which had a basis due to the NCAA's new 5-for-5 eligibility ruling.

It's unclear how the ruling impacts Wright and Harris' eligibility moving forward.

Kiffin told Pat McAfee on Aug. 25 that he doesn't agree with professional players returning to the college ranks, but that Wright and Harris' situation was different based on 5-for-5.

"There's a lot of parts of this I don't like," Kiffin said. "I don't think professionals should come back to college sports and college football. But in this instance, these are not players who have gone on to play seasons professionally or randomly filed an injunction. This is part of a specific class that was ruled wrong by the NCAA that was supposed to be 5-for-5."

SEC punishments for signing former professional player

The SEC's new punishments bar any team from signing former professional players from any level, whether it's the NBA's G-League, the NFL or the WNBA, for example.

Here's the list of punishments the conference agreed on after passing a rule to ban the situation, according to multiple reports on Aug. 26: