RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats is introduced beffore the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Big 12 Conference followed in the steps of the Big Ten and SEC on Wednesday by adopting a conference-wide rule that prohibits schools from adding athletes who have signed a professional contract.
The rule comes with an important caveat: players who had pro experience prior to enrolling in college won’t be impacted. Notably, that means Arizona men’s basketball’s European standouts Ivan Kharcenkov and Motiejus Krivas remain in good standing.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel clarified the rule, which garnered a lot of confusion due to its wording.
A few folks have asked about foreign hoops players. Was told that NCAA rules still apply to the pre enrollment space. So Arizona players, for example, would be fine. This applies if a kid entered college then went to play pro ball in Europe. They could not return to Big 12. https://t.co/dv5opbgYYk
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 26, 2026
CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander also clarified that Kharchenkov and Krivas won’t be affected, adding that the Big 12 is working out a penalty structure for rule violators similar to one the SEC approved Wednesday .
Now that concerns about Kharchenkov and Krivas’ eligibility are out of the way, what does the ruling actually mean?
As The Athletic’s Ralph Russo succinctly stated, players can’t leave, turn pro and then come to college. The Big 12 rule applies to all sports, whereas the SEC’s rule named only the NFL, NBA, WNBA and G League.
Important: This applies to athletes who go pro POST enrollment. You can have some pro experience (think Aussie punters or 18 year pro euro leaguers) and still be eligible to enter college sports. You can’t leave, go pro, and then come back. https://t.co/5ONCeMsrGK
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) August 26, 2026
The timing of the rule comes days after LSU football publicly pursued NFL players who were seeking a fifth year of college eligibility.
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