SEC joins Big Ten in banning pros from returning to college, including basketball players. The Southeastern Conference passed a rule Tuesday banning players who have been drafted by NFL, NBA or WNBA teams or listed on rosters in those leagues, joining the Big Ten in taking a strong stand against this month's unexpected surge of pro players trying to return to college. The SEC's rule differs from the one adopted by the Big Ten, which only included football in its decision released earlier in the day and is expected to address other sports later. The news was the latest in a head-spinning week of court rulings, emergency rulemaking sessions and player signings, all of which point to a college sports landscape in disarray. The moves by the nation's two biggest conferences, four days before the start of football season, are intended to tamp down on the latest crisis — one involving players who came back to college after being released from pro rosters.