For most college athletes, the plan is to play professionally after leaving campus. But for some athletes, that road is a little rocky and has unpredictable turns. As the first week of the 2026 college football season approaches, some professional athletes are seeking a return to the college game with the help of the legal system.
For example, tight end Dae’Quan Wright — who went undrafted out of college but was with the Cleveland Browns during the NFL’s training camp period — is now returning to college to play for Lane Kiffin and Louisiana State University. Previously, Wright played for Virginia Tech University and the University of Mississippi, where he was second team at All-Southeastern Conference.
LSU is also linked to another player returning to college ball: defensive lineman Zxavian Harris. Harris also played for Kiffin at Ole Miss, where he started all 15 games for the Rebels as they advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season. Harris also went undrafted before signing with the New Orleans Saints during the team’s training camp period.
There are more than 300 former college athletes fighting for their eligibility and the chance to increase their draft stock this season.
On Aug. 19, a Louisiana judge granted 16 football players a fifth year of eligibility. This included both Wright and Harris. Then, on Aug. 27, a Dallas judge signed off on an order that allowed 41 players to return to college. Included in this list were 3 players on NFL rosters: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jordan Hudson, plus Chiefs linebacker Wesley Bissainthe and wide receiver Omari Evans.
Even though college athletics seem to be taking a turn for the worse, there is some clarity to be found in all of this. The NCAA was once built on fairness and equal opportunity. Today, it seems with the recent court rulings, the NCAA has left that in the past. Both the Big Ten and SEC were the first two power conferences to stop players from returning to college.
On Aug. 25, the Big Ten unanimously passed a rule that blocks players returning to the conference from the NFL. Players who declared for the NFL draft as underclassmen who didn’t withdraw, signed a professional contract or were on a professional roster at any point are now prohibited from returning to collegiate competition. This ban for the Big Ten, as it stands, is strictly for football, meaning Indiana and the rest of the Big Ten will not be able to bring in a football player under these circumstances.
Following this, the Southeastern Conference enforced a policy that prohibits athletes who declared for either the NBA, NFL or WNBA. This policy also includes athletes who signed any professional contract or were listed on a professional roster, taking it a step further than the Big Ten.
The ban left LSU as the only SEC team with former professional athletes on its roster. With the top two power conferences imposing bans, the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference decided to jump on board, enforcing their own bans as well.
But why shouldn’t these athletes be able to return to college if the courts say they are eligible?
Well, the players trying to come back have already proven they are good enough to be playing at a level above collegiate athletics, hence NFL franchises drafting and adding them to their training camp roster.
There is additionally a level of unfairness to all of this. If these players were granted a fifth year of eligibility to return to school, it could prohibit incoming freshmen, transfer students and other returning players from having an impactful role on their team.
On top of this, these players have been practicing with the best of the best, going against high-level NFL athletes, while receiving training and coaching at the professional level. This experience gives them a competitive edge over younger college players.
Although, if the courts ultimately said it is legal for them to go back to school, why should they be punished for it? It’s important to remember that these players were not breaking any rules prior to Aug. 25. That’s what makes these circumstances so complicated because two things can be true at once.
There is a level of uncertainty surrounding college athletics as a whole with college football’s start looming around the corner.
Where do we go from here? In the past, before name, image and likeness rulings and the rapid changes in college athletics, the beginning of a new college football season would be filled with chatter about exciting new players. Instead, this year, we are talking about former college stars who are ultimately not ready to give up the “college” title.
On the other hand, the top four power conferences put a stop to all of this, but how long will that last?
Hayden Pope (haypope@iu.edu) is a senior studying sports media and is the Indiana Daily Student’s national sports columnist.
