Wisconsin files lawsuit against Miami, alleging tampering led to Xavier Lucas' transfer

New York Times

3 hours ago

The University of Wisconsin and its name, image and likeness collective sued the University of Miami on Friday, alleging it interfered with what it said were binding NIL revenue-sharing contracts with former cornerback Xavier Lucas.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in Dane County (Wis.) Circuit Court, alleges Miami made 'impermissible contacts with (Lucas) and his representatives this past December and January, leading to Lucas' withdrawal from Wisconsin and enrollment at Miami.
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'As a result of Miami's actions, (Lucas) abruptly left UW-Madison's football program and enrolled at Miami, causing plaintiffs to suffer substantial pecuniary and reputational harm,' the lawsuit states. The lawsuit, which Yahoo Sports first reported on, does not name Lucas but refers to him as 'Student-Athlete A.'
The suit adds another layer to the power struggle between schools, conferences and athletes, as athletes sign NIL deals but abandon those contracts to enter the transfer portal.
The House v. NCAA settlement, which will allow schools to directly compensate athletes through revenue sharing for the first time, was approved June 6. For months, schools have signed players to revenue-sharing deals contingent on the settlement's approval, with the intention it would eliminate tampering and slow player movement. The two-year revenue-share agreement Lucas signed shortly after the end of his freshman season in Madison was set to begin July 1, the first day schools can begin directly compensating athletes.
In January, Wisconsin released a statement accusing Miami of tampering, citing 'credible information' and threatening to pursue legal action. The Big Ten backed Wisconsin in a statement Friday.
'As alleged, the University of Miami knowingly ignored contractual obligations and disregarded the principle of competitive equity that is fundamental to collegiate athletics,' the Big Ten said. 'The Big Ten Conference believes that the University of Miami's actions are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework and is supportive of UW-Madison's efforts to preserve it.'
A Miami representative declined to comment on the report of Friday's lawsuit because the school had not been served papers yet.
Wisconsin is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit, as well as 'a declaration that Miami's conduct directed towards (Lucas) constituted tampering.'
Lucas unenrolled from Wisconsin after school officials denied multiple requests from him and his attorney, Darren Heitner, to place his name in the transfer portal during the 20-day winter window (Dec. 9-28). Wisconsin maintains it told Lucas and his mother it would not put his name into the portal because of the two-year NIL contract he signed in December.
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In the lawsuit filed Friday, Wisconsin alleges Miami's 'wrongful conduct' led to Lucas' reaching out to a Wisconsin assistant coach on the evening of Dec. 17 — two days after returning home to South Florida for winter break — and asking to be placed in the transfer portal.
A day later, Lucas 'offered a personal, family-related reason for wanting to enter the transfer portal' in a text message. Three days later, however, a relative of Lucas' contacted a Wisconsin coach and provided information 'inconsistent with his family-related rationale for seeking to transfer,' the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit alleges Lucas told his position coach before heading home for winter break that he had been contacted by other schools to enter the portal but 'reaffirmed that he was committed to UW-Madison.'
Wisconsin said it obtained information indicating that Miami had impermissible contact with Lucas and his representatives on multiple occasions in December and January, including sending a coach and 'prominent Miami alumnus' to Lucas' South Florida home; and offering him a 'more lucrative' compensation package than the one Wisconsin was paying him.
Lucas enrolled in classes at Miami in January and participated in the Hurricanes' spring football practice in March and April. The sophomore, who had 18 tackles as a freshman, is expected to be one of Miami's best defensive players this fall.
The NCAA said in January that its rules 'could not prevent a student-athlete from unenrolling from an institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately.' Wisconsin, though, was not punished for keeping Lucas' name out of the portal.
'Enforcement is shaky — schools can block portal entry, even if it is against NCAA rules, as seen with Lucas,' Heitner told The Athletic earlier this month. 'Wisconsin appears to have escaped punishment, at least for the time being, despite the clear rules violation.'
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Wisconsin's lawsuit also alleges Miami's conduct toward Lucas was not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of Miami's tampering with student-athletes.
'Now more than ever, it is imperative to protect the integrity and fundamental fairness of the game, including in connection with NIL contracts,' the lawsuit states. 'Indeed, student-athletes' newfound NIL rights will be rendered meaningless if third parties are allowed to induce student-athletes to abandon their contractual commitments.'
— The Athletic's Chris Vannini contributed to this report.