NCAA news: Players’ attorney calls out ‘cartel-like conduct’ of SEC, Big Ten

NCAA news: Players’ attorney calls out ‘cartel-like conduct’ of SEC, Big Ten appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In recent years, the NCAA has been embroiled in a complicated saga over its eligibility rules. There have been lawsuits, court rulings, and injunctions, and it looks like the whole circus will not end anytime soon.

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On Tuesday, the SEC and the Big Ten announced their revised policies, essentially barring athletes who have been drafted or appeared on a professional roster from returning to play college sports. The two conferences want to prevent schools from becoming landing spots for players who already have professional experience, ensuring competitive fairness.

Atty. Ryan Downtown, who represents athletes in legal battles against the NCAA, slammed the SEC and the Big Ten in a statement, as reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

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“The SEC’s actions put the NCAA in contempt of multiple court orders. It is cartel-like conduct when NCAA conferences attempt to create their own spur-of-the-moment rules in response to courts enjoining those same rules at the NCAA level,” said Downtown.

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He also said the NCAA should be held “in contempt of court for permitting conferences under its purview to blatantly violate court orders,” as quoted by Yahoo! Sports’ Rose Dellenger.

Downtown added that he is planning to file a motion or an “appropriate legal response” to halt the SEC and the Big Ten from imposing their revised policies.

Some athletes who were allowed by court rulings to play despite having professional experience include LSU’s RJ Luis Jr. and Kentucky’s Mark Mitchell Jr. in basketball and LSU’s Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris in football.

The SEC and the Big Ten are part of the so-called “Power Four” in the NCAA, which holds the highest financial resources, athletic dominance, and political control in college sports.

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ncaa-news-players-attorney-calls-014732401.html

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Publish date : 2026-08-26 01:47:00

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