LSU Reportedly Abstained from Voting on SEC Rule Change Banning NFL Players From Returning to School

LSU was reportedly not part of the SEC's formal vote to finalize penalties for member schools who sign professional athletes.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported LSU abstained from Wednesday's formal presidential vote confirming penalties for programs violating the SEC's new rule against pro players returning to the conference.

LSU was part of the SEC's initial 16-0 vote to institute the rule, according to Thamel.

The SEC announced Tuesday the league would enforce penalties against member schools that roster athletes drafted or signed by NFL, NBA or WNBA teams.

Penalties finalized Wedneday include a fine equal to half the sport's operating budget as well as a half-season suspension for head coaches, per CBS Sports' Matt Norlander.

Programs in violation of the new rule would also lose voting rights for SEC business matters and could receive other penalties up to the discretion of commissioner Greg Sankey, per Norlander.

The move came after the Big Ten unanimously passed a rule blocking NFL players from returning to the conference.

The Big 12 is expected to issue a similar ban on professional athletes returning to compete in their conference, per Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

Independent Notre Dame has expressed interest in a similar measure, while the ACC is also expected to discuss a ban, according to reports from Dellenger.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin confirmed earlier this week he has recruited players seeking a fifth year of college eligibility.

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."

The NCAA decided in June to allow five years of eligibility for DI student-athletes starting this fall.

That led to lawsuits across the country involving players from the high school graduating class of 2022, who were not included in the rule change, campaigning for fifth-year eligibility of their own.

Some players involved in that legal action had signed with NFL teams since leaving their respective college programs.

The NFL is set to issue eligibility guidance Wednesday including a rule prohibiting clubs from signing players who returned to college the same season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.