Big 12 Unanimously Bans Professionals from All Sports

On Wednesday, the Big 12 Conference announced a unanimous decision to prohibit professionals from returning to compete in any of its sports. The policy, which follows a prior draft that failed compliance checks, will prevent any athlete who has played professionally from rejoining Big 12 teams. The move underscores the conference’s commitment to maintaining amateur status across all sports and will affect future eligibility for athletes with professional experience. The ban takes effect immediately, reshaping the competitive landscape for the upcoming season.