Big Ten official: Anthony Hubbard is eligible to play in league right away

Big Ten officials confirmed this morning that former Iowa student Anthony Hubbard would be eligible to play right away at another league institution.

"We would not talk about specific situations, but what I can tell you is if a student-athlete is eligible and meets institutional standards, that student-athlete can play immediately," said Scott Chipman, the Big Ten's associate commissioner for communications.

Hubbard signed with Iowa in April and took summer classes before leaving the team last week with a "no restrictions or conditions.  He can transfer to the institution of his choosing," according to an Iowa news release.

The rule was changed in spring 2010 when former Iowa basketball signee Ben Brust was released from his letter of intent after Todd Lickliter was fired as coach. Brust could not receive a scholarship by Wisconsin based on Big Ten rules that didn't allow intraconference transfers to earn a scholarship. Brust appealed to a subcommittee of Big Ten faculty representatives, which denied him a scholarship waiver. The full committee of Big Ten faculty representatives then approved Brust's scholarship.

Here's the altered Big Ten rule and how it applies to Hubbard:

Intraconference Transfer Rule