American Conference bans NFL, NBA, pro players from returning to college

The American Conference instituted a ban on former professional players in any conference-sponsored sport on Aug. 31, joining a growing list of leagues.

The Big Ten and SEC were among the first collegiate athletics conferences to take action preventing NFL players and other professional athletes from returning to college athletics and competing for member institutions. Many other conferences have followed suit.

The American’s policy essentially echoes the Big 12 Conference’s newly adopted guidelines.

Athletes who declared for the draft or supplemental draft of a professional sports league and did not timely withdraw before the draft

Been listed on the roster of a professional sports league; or

Signed a contract with any professional sports league to provide athletic services

The NCAA’s rollout of the “5 for 5” eligibility system has led to lawsuits from Class of 2022 players looking for a fifth season. On Aug. 25, Memphis football coach Charles Huff said the Tigers had chosen an err-on-the-side-of-caution-until-further-notice approach.

“We’re waiting for a little bit more stable legal advice before we start bringing kids in, calling kids and that type of deal,” Huff said. “But we have a plan if we get the legal advice that says, ‘This is a go.’ If we can improve our roster, we want to do that.”

The SEC’s policy has already been challenged in court, and the case is still being litigated.

USA TODAY NETWORK contributed to this report.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: American Conference bans NFL, NBA, pro players from returning to college