Dallas Judge Blocks NCAA and SEC From Barring 41 Pro Athletes From College Return
A Dallas County judge issued a temporary restraining order on August 27, 2026, preventing the NCAA, SEC, and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey from blocking 41 plaintiffs from returning to college sports based on transfer-portal rules or prior professional play. The order also requires the NCAA to reopen the transfer portal for one week so covered plaintiffs can sign with a new school. No school has confirmed plans to sign any of the plaintiffs, and neither the NCAA nor the SEC had issued a public response by the research cutoff.