The Big Ten is moving to shut the door on a very unusual roster possibility, and that means the Wisconsin Badgers won’t be adding any former NFL players in 2026.
That development comes after college football got thrown another curveball last week, when reports said LSU was expected to bring in two players who had already signed NFL contracts this offseason and spent time in training camp: Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright and New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Zxavian Harris.
The situation is possible because of a court order that opened the door to an unexpected fifth year of eligibility. Players can get that eligibility back by ending their pro contracts and paying back any money they earned while in the NFL.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin defended the move, saying that players are ‘either going to play for you or they’re going to play for someone else around the country,‘ according to ESPN. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day also said the Buckeyes would at least need to think about that possibility.
For Wisconsin, though, the question appears to be settled before it really began. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the Big Ten is set to pass a rule that would bar players returning from the NFL from competing for one of its schools. That includes players who declared for the NFL Draft and never withdrew, players who appeared on an NFL roster, and players who signed a contract with a pro team.
The conference’s athletic directors unanimously approved the rule, but it still needs a final vote from the Faculty Athletic Representatives before it becomes official.
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