RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 1 sources
The adoption of a new college eligibility system — an age-based, five-year model designed to eliminate waivers, redshirts and roster logjams created by a surge of athletes in their mid-20s sticking in school — has been furiously challenged in the courts by members of the 2022 high school class who want a fifth year of eligibility, too.
The new eligibility system, which is replacing one that allowed four seasons of competition over five years with no age restrictions, excludes student-athletes who exhausted their eligibility during the 2025-26 academic year.
That bucket is filled with athletes who first enrolled in 2022, following high school graduation. As of an Aug. 21 report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger , more than 150 athletes had filed a total of 18 lawsuits across 15 states. Wins against the NCAA in state courts have allowed athletes to return to college, including football players who were in NFL camps this offseason.
The phenomenon has bewildered NFL coaches , and, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter , the league is clarifying its eligibility rules on Wednesday.
Sources: The NFL will provide clarity to clubs later today regarding league rules governing player eligibility that have been in place and remain unaltered. A player that goes back to college this season will be prohibited from signing with an NFL team this year. A player signed… pic.twitter.com/IvohMZxXX8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 26, 2026
Here’s what Schefter outlined in his report: If a player signed to an NFL contract is cut, they are a free agent, meaning they can sign with another NFL team, a CFL team or return to college. But even if a player cut by an NFL team returns to college this year, they won’t be subject to a future NFL Draft because they will still be considered a free agent. Plus, any player who goes back to college this year won’t be able to sign with an NFL team this season.
These NFL eligibility rules “have been in place and remain unaltered,” according to Schefter.
Even though a path has opened momentarily for high school class of 2022 athletes to make their way back to college for a final season of eligibility, conferences are enacting policy to prevent member institutions from rostering some of those athletes.
The Big Ten and SEC are chief among them .
The SEC, for instance, announced Tuesday that its institutions are not permitted to have an athlete on its roster who has previously declared for the NFL, NBA or WNBA Draft and didn’t appropriately withdraw. The conference is also banning athletes who signed a contract with a team in a pro football league, including the NFL, or a team in the NBA/G League or WNBA. Those who have been listed on a pro football league roster, or that of an NBA/G League team or an WNBA team are prohibited as well.
The SEC noted that penalties will be enforced against member institutions who don’t comply. As for the Big Ten, per On3’s Pete Nakos , member institutions who violate its policy will face a coach suspension of 50% of contests and an institutional fine.
The Big Ten’s policy applies only to football players who have signed a pro contract, were on a pro roster or declared for the NFL Draft as an underclassman without withdrawing. But the conference is considering rules restricting pro athletes in other sports from conference competition.
Not every conference has put guardrails in place, however.
Notably, former UCF, Boston College and Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos — who went undrafted this year and reportedly accepted rookie minicamp invitations from the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins this offseason — committed to the Big 12’s Texas Tech on Wednesday .
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.