Dorothy

The stated goal of these changes is to, according to a joint statement from the league and the NFLPA, “make the game safer by focusing discipline on the techniques most likely to result in player injury rather than players who make isolated mistakes during competition.” As a result, five penalties will see a greater emphasis this season:

Per ESPN, a player who goes back to college this season will be prohibited from signing with an NFL team during the 2026 season. A player who signs an NFL contract and is subsequently cut becomes a free agent. While he may sign with another NFL club, join the CFL or return to college, he is considered a free agent and will not be subject to a future draft.

One of the most notable names in that case is former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright, who committed to Lane Kiffin and LSU on Tuesday after clearing waivers following his release from the Browns. If he ends up playing for the Tigers, he'll be the first player to go from an NFL roster back to college.

The idea of NFL players going back to college is downright puzzling for Rams head coach Sean McVay, who offered a colorful response when he heard about Wright's move from the Browns to LSU.

LSU opted not to support the SEC's push to penalize programs that play former professional players in a vote Wednesday among the league's university presidents and chancellors, sources tell CBS Sports.

CBS Sports' John Talty and Chris Hummer reported Tuesday "Kiffin and the Tigers reached out to multiple players on NFL rosters or their representation in an effort to get them to bring a lawsuit against the NCAA and return to school, per sources."

Kiffin was not alone in his pursuit of the players, who were initially granted a court order to return to college football. They were among the group that sued for eligibility because they weren't grandfathered into the NCAA's five-for-five rule. Kiffin is arguing that it's a one-time deal, but all of these are popping up as one-time deals over and over again.

Under this new agreement, players who commit three such penalties during a season will be suspended for one game. Players who commit just one penalty will receive half of their fine back from the league at the end of the season.

The SEC certainly tried to stand behind its rule barring interconference transfers (Wright, Harris and Williams were with Kiffin at Ole Miss) when it was a football-only issue. But then, across campus in Baton Rouge, men's basketball coach Will Wade got some good news in the way of a court allowing St. John's RJ Luis an injunction to play for him this year. Luis signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz this summer.