Texas judge halts SEC's new eligibility rule affecting 40 players

A Texas judge has temporarily blocked a new Southeastern Conference rule that would prevent players from returning to the league after going pro. This ruling impacts over 40 players, including those who exhausted their eligibility last spring and are seeking a fifth year. Judge Martin Hoffman stated that players would still be eligible if they would have qualified to play in the upcoming semester. The decision comes amid broader changes across the NCAA and its conferences regarding player eligibility and transfer rules, with the ACC recently adding its own ineligibility guidelines. The NCAA faces several lawsuits over similar eligibility rules, adding pressure on their interpretation of both league and conference decisions.

• 1:47 AMYahoo Sports — Texas judge puts SEC’s new eligibility rule on hold