ACC Announces Rule Change Banning NFL, NBA and WNBA Players, Follows Lead of Big Ten, SEC, Big 12

The ACC announced a rule change prohibiting professional athletes in sports including football, men's basketball and women's basketball from returning to play in college on Thursday.

The ban includes players that previously declared for the NFL, NBA or WNBA drafts and did not withdraw consistent with NCAA requirements as well as players that signed a contract with the NBA, WNBA, NFL or any other professional football league.

Players that have been listed on rosters in any of those leagues are also unable to return and compete at ACC schools.

The SEC previously announced a similar rule on Tuesday before the Big 12 followed suit on Wednesday.

The Big Ten also passed a rule that focused on football players getting banned from returning to the conference after signing with an NFL team or appearing on an NFL roster on Tuesday.

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