The SEC is digging in for a fight over whether former pro players can suit up in college again, even as it says it will follow a Louisiana court order for now.
On Sunday night, ESPN’s Pete Thamel posted a conference statement making clear that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and the league plan to challenge the allegations at a preliminary injunction hearing Thursday morning in Baton Rouge. The conference stressed that the ruling in place is only temporary.
"The order entered against the SEC and Commissioner Sankey is a temporary restraining order, not a final ruling on the merits," the SEC said. "The SEC and Commissioner Sankey are prepared to contest the allegations in the plaintiffs’ petition at Thursday morning’s hearing and defend the SEC’s rights as a voluntary association to fulfill its mission to its member institutions."
“In the meantime, the SEC and Commissioner Sankey will continue to comply with the Court’s order. Following the hearing, the SEC will carefully review the Court’s decision and determine the appropriate next steps.”
A Louisiana judge amended a temporary restraining order on Friday to add the SEC and Sankey to the case, which blocks the conference from punishing schools that use players covered by the order.
That has immediate implications for LSU, which is expected to bring in former NFL players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. Jack Pyburn, who was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, could also make his way back to LSU if another NFL team does not claim him.
The SEC had recently put in place a policy that bars players who signed pro contracts or appeared on professional rosters from returning to compete in the conference. Under that policy, schools that break the rule could be hit with heavy fines, lose voting privileges and see their head coach suspended for half a season.
For now, though, the conference says it will stay in line with the court’s order. Thursday’s hearing is set to be the next key moment in deciding whether those protections for the players stay intact.
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LSU Could Get A Huge Pass Rush Boost Right Before The Opener
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