The SEC unanimously passed a rule forbidding member schools from rostering athletes who previously declared for the NFL, NBA, or WNBA draft without proper withdrawal, extending beyond the Big Ten’s football-only restriction. The policy, approved 16-0, grants commissioner Greg Sankey authority to enforce it with penalties yet to be announced. It targets athletes who signed professional contracts or appeared on pro rosters, directly responding to cases like Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright and LSU basketball player RJ Luis Jr., both seeking fifth-year eligibility via court rulings.

Wright was waived by the Browns and is in the transfer portal; Luis Jr. received a temporary injunction to play for LSU despite NBA contracts. LSU coaches Lane Kiffin and Will Wade have not commented on whether they will comply. The ACC, Big 12, and Notre Dame signaled alignment, with Notre Dame calling pro-to-college transactions 'totally opposed.' The rule reflects growing conference resistance to state court rulings challenging NCAA eligibility norms, as leagues prepare formal policies amid ongoing legal battles over athlete rights and extended college participation.