With court orders and NFL players returning to college football, the SEC had to scramble to decide how to handle players trying to return to school. Initially, the SEC had announced it would punish schools for rostering players who had turned professional and tried to return, but it has since backpedaled.
CFB fans aren’t happy with the SEC backing down, and they let commissioner Greg Sankey hear it.
CFB Fans Rip SEC For Allowing NFL Players’ Return to College Football
College football players have always been restricted to collegiate athletes until now. With new court rulings on eligibility, some players who left college without eligibility, hoping to reach their NFL dreams, are now eligible for an extra year and want to use it. Former Ole Miss TE Dae’Quan Wright was on the Browns’ preseason roster, but tried to return to school and was granted the opportunity to become the first NFL player to do so.
Wright would have been barred from playing in games without consequences until Sankey and the SEC retracted their stance.
PREDICT THE CFB SEASON: PFN’s Free CFB Playoff Predictor
According to Darren Heitner, “The SEC and Greg Sankey will comply with all applicable court orders, including those in Louisiana.”
Fans are simply not happy with this decision as they don’t want players who have played in the NFL to return to college teams.
“Backing down that fast? What a joke of a conference lmao,” said one fan.
Backing down that fast? What a joke of a conference lmao
— Biased Notre Dame Fan (@CFBGuy999) August 29, 2026
“Big L for Greg Sankey. And common sense,” added another fan.
The court rulings have complicated matters for the conferences, as they would likely overrule any conference rules that are set. One fan made sure to highlight the difficulties of fighting these lawsuits.
“I understand that this is hard to fight, but what a disgrace it is that coaches are actively trying this,” said one fan.
I understand that this is hard to fight, but what a disgrace it is that coaches are actively trying this.
— The Southern Blitz (@southern_blitz) August 29, 2026
With the Louisiana court order, Wright is headed to play for Lane Kiffin and LSU.
Kiffin’s LSU is spearheading the movement of letting NFL players onto the team. While more teams will likely add players who try to do this, LSU was the first, and fans are finding a common enemy in the Tigers because of this strategy.
“Lane Kiffin rubbing his hands like Birdman,” said one fan.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free College Fantasy Simulator
The College Football Playoff makes no guarantees about who it lets into the playoffs, except for the top conference champions. Assuming LSU doesn’t win the SEC, fans are calling for the program to be left out of the playoffs regardless, because they are using former NFL players.
“College Football Playoff, do your job. Make sure to have a lot of fun in those 12 regular season games, LSU,” said one popular college football social media account.
College Football Playoff, do your job.
Make sure to have a lot of fun in those 12 regular season games, LSU. https://t.co/thltaTgxAg
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) August 29, 2026
College sports have been changing for a few years with NIL, revenue sharing, and all the eligibility rulings. Some are wondering whether it’s gone too far.
“Sport is cooked,” one fan said bluntly.
Sport is cooked https://t.co/cinv9ghPEo
— Ty Maiberger (@MaibergerTy) August 29, 2026
The SEC doesn’t have any teams in action in Week 0, but all eyes will be on LSU next week when Wright likely debuts for the Tigers after being with the Browns a few weeks prior.
LSU won’t have an easy game either with Clemson coming to town, as Dabo Swinney’s team will have much of the college football world on their side.
