SEC schools — except LSU — approve penalties for signing returning pro athletes

The SEC presidents recently approved stringent penalties to discourage schools from signing athletes with prior professional experience, with LSU notably abstaining from the decision-making process. This decision came a day after LSU joined a unanimous 16-0 vote to enforce rules against players who dropped out of professional leagues.

Coach Lane Kiffin has recruited at least two players eligible for the NCAA due to a Louisiana court injunction, and Will Wade, LSU's men's basketball coach, was pursuing another player. Neither Kiffin, Wade, nor LSU's administration has commented publicly since the SEC's announcement of the ban on pros.

Following the SEC's announcement, schools were informed of the specific penalties, which include a half-season suspension for the coach, a fine equal to half of the sport's fiscal year budget, loss of voting privileges on conference matters, and any additional penalties deemed appropriate by the commissioner and presidents. These penalties mirror those approved by the NCAA to penalize "ghost transfers" – players who bypass the transfer portal window by switching from one school to another.

The SEC's move is part of a broader trend of off-field issues in college athletics, sparked by recent court injunctions that allowed fifth-year players to return to school. The NCAA implemented an age-based eligibility rule in June, granting athletes a five-year window to play college football, but this rule did not apply to Class of 2022 high school athletes who had used up their initial eligibility under the old standards.

Legal representatives for these players – including Kiffin – have argued for their right to return, even if they signed a professional contract. The SEC and Big Ten have interpreted the injunctions to apply solely to their respective conferences, rather than the entire NCAA.