MADISON, Wis. (CN) - The University of Wisconsin System and its name, image and likeness collective filed suit on Friday against the University of Miami, claiming it intentionally induced a star football player to transfer within days of his contract's execution.  

In July 2021, student-athletes began entering contracts with third parties for use of their name, image and likeness thanks to the landmark settlement in House v. NCAA.

Xavier Lucas, originally from Florida, entered into one of these contracts with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its third party name, image and likeness collective in December 2024 after an impressive freshman season as a cornerback for the Wisconsin Badgers, according to UW.

The contract gave UW-Madison an exclusive license to Lucas's name, image and likeness rights for two years. In signing, Lucas was disallowed from entering contracts with any other institution and was required to remain committed to playing for the Wisconsin Badgers during the contractual term, with payments beginning July 1, 2025.

Shortly after signing, Lucas left Wisconsin to spend Christmas break with his family in Florida. Days later, everything changed.

On Friday, the University of Wisconsin-Madison filed suit against the University of Miami, both D1 schools, for interfering in the contract between Lucas and UW. The university accused the Miami Hurricanes of knowingly inducing Lucas, just days after entering into an NIL agreement with UW, to break his contract and transfer schools.

UW asserted in its complaint that it has evidence that Miami had multiple "impermissible contacts" with Lucas during his Christmas break in Florida, including a home visit by an unnamed Miami coach and a prominent alumnus to Lucas' relative's home. It is not clear whether Lucas was also there for the meeting, but UW says that the relative informed them of the visit and of the compensation offered to Lucas by Miami if he agreed to transfer.

At the time, Miami's student transfer deadline had well passed for the spring semester, according to UW.

"Miami's wrongful conduct highlights the importance of applying longstanding legal principles to this new frontier to protect the interests of everyone involved," UW said in the complaint. "During this watershed time for college athletics, this case will advance the overall integrity of the game by holding programs legally accountable when they wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments."

Lucas requested to be placed in the transfer portal on Dec. 17, 2024, just one week after apparently expressing excitement about the 2025 football season with UW. The request "shocked and surprised" the coaching staff, according to UW, but they reminded that he had just entered a binding contract.

UW remained firm that Lucas' contract prevented him from being entered into the transfer portal, which was created by the NCAA in 2018 to manage which student athletes could be contacted by competing teams. It is against NCAA rules to poach players not entered the transfer portal, according to UW.

UW says that members of the athletic staff repeatedly attempted to mend the relationship, but by January, Lucas had unenrolled from UW and publicly announced his enrollment at Miami.

The transfer portal opens twice each year, in April and December. There are also NCAA rules governing the recruitment process for incoming freshman athletes and those in the portal, controlling when and how schools may make contact.

The NCAA changed its rules in 2021 to allow student athletes to be directly paid for the use of their name, image and likeness in advertising after being sued by a handful of collegiate swimmers in House v. NCAA.

The resulting settlement marked a fundamental shift in college sports, increasing competition for talent exponentially and making celebrities out of college students. This case is the first test of the NCAA's rules and enforcement in the new landscape.

UW described Lucas in Friday's complaint as a "star player on the Badgers' 2024 football team." Being such an important part of the strategy of the upcoming 2025 season, Lucas' NIL contract was one of the most lucrative commitments of any UW football player, they say.  

Though the school does not put a dollar amount on that claim in its complaint, it does claim to have suffered immense harm by Miami's actions. In addition to seeking compensation for the "pecuniary and reputational harm" it has suffered, UW also asked the court to declare that Miami officially tampered with the NIL contract.

"While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field," UW said in a statement on Friday. "In addition to our legal action, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student athletes."

The University of Miami could not be immediately reached for comment.

Source: Courthouse News Service