The Big Ten unanimously approved a new rule which bans NFL players from returning to and playing at member institutions, but it will not impact IU defensive ends Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt's quest to return for the 2026 season.
The Big Ten Conference has unanimously approved a new rule which bans NFL players from returning to and playing at member institutions. ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the new rule.
The conference issued a statement Tuesday afternoon stipulating that players who have "signed a professional contract, were on a professional roster at any point or declared for the NFL Draft as an underclassman without withdrawing" are prohibited from playing for a Big Ten team. According to CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello, any Big Ten team which plays a former NFL player will face punishments including a head coach suspension for 50 percent of the season and institutional fines.
The new rule does not pertain to Indiana defensive ends Stephen Daley or Kellan Wyatt, who are seeking a return for the 2026 season after going undrafted and not signing with an NFL team this offseason. However, Daley and Wyatt still need to clear legal hurdles in the courts system to retain eligibility for the 2026 season, but "they would be OK if they get a TRO (temporary restraining order" according to Thamel.
After a Colorado judge previously granted a class-wide injunction paving the way for Daley and Wyatt to play collegiately this fall, the NCAA has since won a legal appeal which now puts IU's pass-rushers' eligibility in limbo.
Both players have rejoined IU's roster during fall camp and are allowed to practice while the eligibility process unravels. Daley and Wyatt are currently deemed ineligible to play in the 2026 season due to the Colorado court ruling — not the Big Ten rule — but they could pursue further legal options, including filing for injunction relief or temporary restraining orders in other state jurisdictions.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said in a Monday press conference that he is in full support of Daley and Wyatt as they aim to return to IU this season.
"Wyatt and Daley can practice. Right now they're ineligible to play," Cignetti said. "So we're taking that day-by-day. Obviously we'd love to see that happen (return to play)."
Added Cignetti: "We're gonna support them in their quest to be eligible to play... We'll just take it day-by-day in terms of their reps."
Cignetti also clarified that if Daley and Wyatt are deemed eligible to play this season, it would not impact other IU players' roster spots. The maximum number of scholarship players allowed is 105.
"We'd have to make no roster cuts if they're eligible to play," Cignetti said.
In 2025, Daley finished the season as the Big Ten leader in tackles for loss with 19 despite beginning the campaign as a backup to Wyatt. Wyatt started the first seven games of the season, totaling 27 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one pass breakup across seven games.
"I think in their case, you're creating opportunities," Cignetti said. "You look at Wyatt, he started less than half the games last year and got hurt. Daley stepped in and started six out of 16 games, got hurt. Both had pro potential, but because of injury didn't end up in NFL (training) camps."
Indiana football: 5 biggest X-factors who could swing the 2026 season (OFFENSE)
IU's 2026 season could be determined by how well these five offensive players perform this fall.
Indiana football is less than two weeks away from its 2026 season opener, but several questions still remain. Although the Hoosiers will have no shortage of star-power and talent across the field, the season could ultimately be decided by how a small group of key players perform on Saturdays.
We'll call these the "swing" players or "X-factors" entering of the 2026 season. Most won't come as a surprise given their projected impact and depth chart standing, but their range of outcomes this fall could vary greatly. Thus, for Indiana to once again contend for the national championship, it will need this group of players to perform at or above their expected levels.
Name-brand stars such as Nick Marsh, Charlie Becker, Carter Smith and others are already expected to be elite producers, and anything less would seem like a disappointment. For the purposes of this exercise, we're excluding those kinds of players with high-level confidence that they'll make big impacts.
Instead, we're looking at players with more question marks, less proven production and overall uncertainties who will impact the course of IU's season. On offense, that includes Josh Hoover, Tyler Morris, Joe Brunner and more.
With that, here are my picks for the five biggest swing players on offense for the Hoosiers in the 2026 season...
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