The SEC issued a statement on Monday emphasizing that athletes who leave college to sign professional contracts should not be permitted to return to college competition. This follows the unprecedented case of former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright, who hopes to clear waivers with the Cleveland Browns to return to LSU for a fifth season. Wright dressed for the Browns' preseason game against the Buffalo Bills but did not play.

He is currently available in the NCAA transfer portal after a Louisiana judge granted him a temporary restraining order. Another athlete, star basketball player RJ Luis Jr., received a temporary injunction to play for LSU this season despite signing multiple NBA contracts. The SEC presidents and chancellors held a videoconference before releasing their statement, asserting that allowing former professionals to return would blur the line between college and professional sports, create competitive equity concerns, and reduce opportunities for high school and current college athletes.

The NCAA changed its eligibility rules in June to allow five seasons within five years, but this did not grandfather in athletes from the 2022 class like Wright. The NCAA is facing multiple lawsuits from athletes denied a fifth year. The SEC will meet in Birmingham, Alabama, with commissioner Greg Sankey to discuss the future of college athletics and potential conference-specific rules.