Big 12 joins SEC and Big Ten in banning professional athletes from college

The Big 12 Conference announced a ban on athletes with professional experience returning to NCAA competition. This decision aligns with similar policies established by the Big Ten and SEC, which require underclassmen who declared for the NFL Draft to withdraw or be ineligible along with other stipulations. All three conferences' votes were unanimous, signaling a significant shift in eligibility rules across major college sports. Discussions are ongoing among other conferences, with the ACC expected to review a similar policy soon, indicating a broader consensus against allowing players to re-enter college sports after pursuing professional careers.

• 12:33 PMYahoo Sports — Big 12 Follows Big Ten, SEC, Bans Return Of Professional Athletes