College Football Playoff Weighs In on Former-Pro Controversy, Backs Conference Rules
The College Football Playoff has weighed in on the growing controversy surrounding former professional athletes returning to college football, adding another prominent voice to the dispute one day before Clemson faces LSU.
The CFP issued a statement Friday supporting the authority of individual conferences to establish rules concerning athletes with professional draft, contract or roster ties.
"The CFP strongly supports the positions and rules of individual conferences concerning the return to college of athletes with professional draft, contract or roster ties," the organization said.
The statement comes as LSU and the SEC remain at odds over whether former professional players can join the Tigers' roster.
A Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction Thursday that opened a path for former NFL players, including Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, to return to college football. The SEC, which has rules prohibiting former professional athletes from returning to competition, is continuing its legal fight over the issue.
The CFP said conference rules are intended to protect "the needs, interests and integrity of the sport" and argued that clear standards are necessary so FBS programs understand what is expected of them.
"Given the ongoing legal proceedings, we will not have further comments on the matter at this time," the CFP said.
The statement does not address LSU specifically or suggest any potential College Football Playoff consequences.
It comes amid another development directly involving Clemson. Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported Friday that Clemson notified LSU that using former professional players Saturday could constitute a breach of the game contract between the schools.
Clemson and No. 11 LSU are scheduled to kick off Saturday night in Baton Rouge.
– FULL RELEASE –
IRVING, Texas – The College Football Playoff (CFP) today, September 4, issued the following statement in support of the positions and rules of individual conferences concerning the return to college of athletes with professional draft, contract or roster ties:
“The CFP strongly supports the positions and rules of individual conferences concerning the return to college of athletes with professional draft, contract or roster ties. These conference rules are intended to protect the needs, interests and integrity of the sport. The CFP believes that certain clear rules should be followed so that individual institutions fielding FBS football teams know what will be expected of them, and so that the public can have full confidence in the competitive integrity of the sport. Given the ongoing legal proceedings, we will not have further comments on the matter at this time.”
