College football is facing another major eligibility debate after the SEC and Big Ten moved to stop players who have entered the professional ranks from returning to college.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire believes the new rules could lead to a legal fight, with players potentially taking the conferences to court.
Joey McGuire Predicts Legal Fight
The SEC’s policy covers both football and basketball. SEC schools cannot roster athletes who have declared for the NFL, NBA, or WNBA Draft without properly withdrawing, signing a professional contract, or appearing on a professional or affiliated team roster.
The issue gained attention after LSU pursued undrafted free agents Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. Both players had signed NFL deals, were released during training camp, and then sought to return to college football through state-court injunctions.
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McGuire expects more legal action to follow.
“You know what’s coming next. Those players are going to sue the conference, and so what do you do? I was checking with our guys today and like, what’s the Big 12 going to do, you know? And so, again, it’s going to be interesting. I mean, we’ve been monitoring the last week or so to how we can add, if possible, somebody to make this team better,” he said.
McGuire also made it clear that coaches still have to focus on improving their rosters while the legal situation develops. “I’m going to constantly look to how we can be better as a team and be better roster-wise. I mean, that’s the way I look at it,” he added.
#TexasTech head coach Joey McGuire on the Big 10 and SEC banning NFL players from returning: pic.twitter.com/WcqTjL4J52
— Caleigh Jo Hommel (@caleighhommeltv) August 25, 2026
The timing of the decision has also raised questions. Announcing the rule in October, after the school year had started, would have given players more time to weigh their options. It also would have given teams more time to prepare.
The dispute highlights the growing complexity of college football as conferences, schools, players, and courts continue to clash over eligibility rules.
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If courts challenge or overturn the restrictions, players could have more freedom to move between professional football and college programs. That could create another major challenge for conferences trying to establish consistent roster rules.
The situation could also add pressure for federal legislation. The proposed Protect College Sports Act could give conferences antitrust protections and provide a federal framework for eligibility rules, potentially reducing the uncertainty created by state-level court decisions.
