Wisconsin Sues Miami Over NIL Tampering Allegations

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective have filed a landmark lawsuit against the University of Miami, alleging Miami staff and a prominent alumnus committed tortious interference by inducing cornerback Xavier Lucas to break a binding NIL contract and transfer without entering the NCAA transfer portal. Wisconsin claims Lucas and his family were offered financial incentives to join the Hurricanes, violating NCAA rules and contractual obligations. The Big Ten Conference has publicly supported Wisconsin, citing the need for contractual integrity to ensure fairness in college sports. This case is the first legal effort to enforce NIL contract terms between a football player and a school, highlighting issues of player mobility and contractual enforceability. The lawsuit comes as student-athletes recently gained the right to direct revenue sharing, further complicating the collegiate sports landscape. The outcome may set important precedents for NIL and transfer disputes going forward.