USC will allow Bryce Dixon to re-enroll in school – but won’t allow him to rejoin the football team.

After receiving a judge’s written order Thursday to stay Dixon’s expulsion, the school announced it would allow the talented tight end to return to the university. However, the school said in a statement that it “stands by its student disciplinary processes” in Dixon’s student-conduct case, which included an allegation of sexual assault. The school added:

“Where there is a disciplinary finding this serious in nature, the university prohibits students from representing the university, including as a member of its athletic teams. So while we will comply with the judge’s order staying the expulsion, Mr. Dixon will not be reinstated as a student-athlete.”

The university declined further comment. Attempts made Thursday night to reach Dixon’s attorney, Mark Hathaway, were unsuccessful.

USC allowing Dixon back in school but keeping him off the football team always was a possibility, even after Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Robert H. O’Brien signed a written order staying Dixon’s expulsion from the school. The order came in response to a petition challenging Dixon’s May 2015 expulsion from USC.

Dixon showed great promise on the field last season as a freshman but ran into trouble off it, twice facing accusations of sexual misconduct. The first such charge was dismissed; the second – an allegation of sexual assault – was not. Both came from the same woman, a USC student athletic trainer.

Dixon missed one game last season because of what was described as a student-conduct issue. He was held out of spring practice for the same reason. The university expelled him May 12, one day before the end of the spring semester.

In the appeal petition filed in court Wednesday, Dixon and his attorney argue that the investigation that led to his expulsion was “utterly lacking in due process, with no hearing, no right to counsel, no rules of evidence, no presumption of innocence, no right to possess copies of witness statements and evidence, and no right to confront witnesses.”

The petition also contends that USC is under “immense pressure … to treat students accused of sexual misconduct with a presumption of guilt and to simply expel every accused male student in order to avoid jeopardizing the flow of hundreds of millions of federal education dollars” the school receives from the U.S. Department of Education under the umbrella of Title IX and other programs. The petition states that USC received in excess of $592 million in federal funds during the 2013-14 academic year.

It was unknown at press time whether Dixon would pursue further legal action against USC. In order to play this season, he would have to transfer to a lower-level school.

Dixon would have represented an immediate upgrade at the tight end position for USC. The Trojans have six tight ends in training camp. Only one, walk-on Connor Spears, was with the team in spring. USC also is awaiting word on the academic status of redshirt junior Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick.