In a week where college football makes its return for the 2026 season, conferences are scrambling after rulings are shaping rosters in both football and basketball.

A Louisiana judge cleared former St. John’s guard RJ Luis to return to the NCAA to play for LSU in the 2026-27 season after Luis spent the past season on two NBA teams. 

Luis did not play an NBA game for the Celtics or Jazz, and also didn’t appear for the Celtics’ G-League team due to an injury. 

The response from conferences has been frantic. 

The SEC released a statement Monday evening after the ruling showing its distaste. 

“College Athletes, not former professional athletes, have been the heart of the Southeastern Conference,” the SEC said in a statement posted to social media. “Individuals who choose to leave college athletics, sign professional playing contracts, and compete professionally should not then be permitted to return to college competition.” 

It isn’t just the LSU basketball program trying to recruit players; Lane Kiffin has drawn the ire of the conference with his attempts to bring in players who were cut from NFL camps. 

Zxavian Harris, who played for Kiffin at Ole Miss in 2025, used a different successful lawsuit to enter the transfer portal and commit to the Tigers after being waived by the Saints. 

In a response to the lawsuits and former professional players returning to college, the Big Ten Conference announced a new rule, approved unanimously by administrators, that bans football players who declare for the NFL draft as underclassmen or players who signed a professional contract or were on a professional roster at any point from returning to play in the conference. 

The rule specifically cited football, but the conference did not rule out the possibility for it to be applied in other sports. 

The ACC also scheduled a meeting to discuss a rule similar to the Big Ten’s. 

The new rule may provide an out for conferences to still ban players from playing despite them gaining a preliminary injunction. 

Earlier in August, Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide was deemed ineligible by the Patriot League despite McQuaide being granted an injunction against the NCAA. The conference told Villanova that any games McQuaide starts would be forfeited as he is an ineligible player. 

Patriot League rules only allow for a player to participate in four seasons of competition. 

As McQuaide’s case has moved forward, the NCAA filed a brief in the court that contends that since the Patriot League is a “separate entity from the NCAA” they are allowed to institute its own rules despite the injunction. 

Could this be a way to stop the legal madness in college sports? Maybe, or maybe it will just create a new stream of lawsuits as players sue the NCAA and conferences to play. 

Either way one thing is certain: players take the field for the new season starting Thursday. 

Reporter Jon Allen can be reached at 406-758-4426 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.