The Big Ten Conference announced Tuesday the unanimous adoption of a conference rule to prohibit football players who have signed a professional contract, were on a professional roster at any point or declared for the NFL Draft as an underclassman without withdrawing, from maintaining eligibility for athletic competition at a conference institution.

The conference said in their statement that it continues to evaluate potential rules restricting professional athletes in other sports from conference competition.

This comes after several recently waived players in the NFL have been looking to return to the college ranks, thanks to the recent court order that granted players a fifth-year of eligibility.

Several hours after the Big Ten's decision, the SEC released the following statement:

"Following meetings with the presidents, chancellors, and athletics directors of the Southeastern Conference, the SEC will enforce the following policy:

An SEC institution is not permitted to have an athlete on its roster who has:

1. Previously declared for the NFL, NBA, OR WNBA DRAFT, and did not appropriately withdraw,

2. Signed a contract with an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-LEAGUE, or WNBA (or affiliate) team, or

3. Been listed on an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-LEAGUE, or WNBA (or affiliate) roster.

The commissioner is authorized to enforce this expectation with penalties against member institutions."