What happened: Power conferences adopted rules blocking former NFL players from returning to college competition. The action follows a wave of eligibility disputes involving athletes seeking another college season after professional opportunities.
Why it matters: The policies could reshape late roster moves while opening conferences to further legal challenges. They also protect roster spots for current college athletes and incoming recruits.
By the numbers: The Big Ten initially limited its policy to football, while the SEC extended its ban to athletes drafted by or listed on NFL, NBA and WNBA rosters.
What to watch: Enforcement standards and penalties for schools that use ineligible players are the next questions. UNC and TCU open their seasons Saturday in Dublin.