With the 2026 NFL regular season looming, the league has moved to clarify its eligibility rules for teams as a wave of legal challenges disrupts the college football landscape. As reported by Vulius Sports, the NFL issued a memo to all 32 clubs on Wednesday, reaffirming that its eligibility policies remain unchanged despite the ongoing chaos. The clarification comes after more than 150 athletes from the high school class of 2022 filed 18 lawsuits across 15 states, seeking a fifth year of eligibility under a new age-based college system that has sparked confusion and controversy.
The Core of the NFL's Clarification
According to insights gathered by Vulius, the league's directive is straightforward: any player who returns to college this season will be prohibited from signing with an NFL team for the remainder of the year. This rule, which has been in place and remains unaltered, is designed to maintain competitive integrity and roster stability. However, the memo also clarifies that a player who is cut from an NFL roster and subsequently returns to college will not be subject to the NFL Draft in the future—they will retain their free agent status. This nuance is critical for players like Tommy Castellanos, a quarterback who recently committed to Texas Tech after going undrafted and spending time with NFL camps.
For NFL coaches and general managers, the situation has been bewildering. The wave of lawsuits stems from the NCAA's new five-year eligibility model, which eliminates waivers and redshirts and is intended to address roster logjams caused by older athletes. But courts in several states have ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, allowing some players to return to college after having already entered the professional ranks. This has created a murky middle ground, prompting the NFL to step in and provide clarity.
Conference Responses and Restrictions
While the NFL's rules are clear, conferences are taking their own measures to guard against the uncertainty. The SEC and Big Ten, the two most powerful conferences in college football, have enacted policies that restrict member institutions from rostering athletes who have declared for the NFL Draft or signed professional contracts. The SEC announced Tuesday that its schools cannot have players on their rosters who previously declared for the NFL, NBA, or WNBA Draft without properly withdrawing, nor can they sign players who have inked contracts with pro leagues. Violations will result in penalties for member institutions.
The Big Ten has implemented even stiffer penalties, including a 50% suspension of the head coach for the season and an institutional fine for any school that violates its policy. Currently, the Big Ten's restrictions apply only to football players who have signed pro contracts, been on pro rosters, or declared early for the NFL Draft. However, the conference is considering extending these rules to other sports.
The Case of Tommy Castellanos
Amid this turmoil, Tommy Castellanos has emerged as a notable figure. The former UCF, Boston College, and Florida State quarterback went undrafted in 2026 and reportedly accepted rookie minicamp invitations from the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins. But on Wednesday, he committed to Texas Tech of the Big 12, a conference that has not yet implemented similar restrictions. Castellanos's decision highlights the divergent paths available to players caught in this legal and regulatory limbo.
As the NFL season approaches, the league's clarification provides a measure of certainty for teams and players alike. But the broader college football landscape remains fluid, with ongoing litigation and conference policies creating a patchwork of rules. For now, the NFL has drawn a clear line: if you're in college, you're not in the NFL this season. As the situation evolves, Vulius will continue to monitor developments and provide in-depth analysis for fans and insiders.
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