Miami expected to file motion to dismiss against Wisconsin in Xavier Lucas lawsuit
College Football on Trial: Miami to Fight Wisconsin Lawsuit
A landmark legal battle is brewing in college football as the University of Miami prepares to fight back against a lawsuit filed by the University of Wisconsin. The suit, alleging tortious interference and financial damages, centers around the transfer of standout cornerback Xavier Lucas from Wisconsin to Miami.
Wisconsin Claims Interference with Revenue Sharing
The lawsuit, filed in June in a Wisconsin state circuit court, claims that Miami interfered with a binding revenue-sharing deal involving Wisconsin and Lucas. According to the complaint, Miami communicated directly with Lucas and “knowingly induced” him to leave Wisconsin without entering the NCAA’s transfer portal.
Miami is expected to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit by Friday, sources say. The University of Miami declined to comment on the matter.
Lucas: Caught in the Crossfire?
While not named directly in the complaint, Lucas is identified as “Student Athlete A.” His attorney, Darren Heitner, previously alleged that Wisconsin violated NCAA rules by failing to put Lucas into the transfer portal after multiple requests.
“We are displeased that Wisconsin is suing Miami, and I have heard from other athletes who are concerned about the approach Wisconsin is taking,” said Heitner in a statement. “Athletes like Xavier are watching this and are understandably worried that a school could potentially take the extra step and sue a student when the school was in the wrong for violating NCAA rules.”
He added, "The only issue here is that Wisconsin failed to place Xavier’s name into the transfer portal, as required, leaving Xavier with scrambling to find a solution, which was ultimately to unenroll when he felt trapped."
Lucas, a standout freshman cornerback for the Badgers in 2024, posted 18 tackles and an interception in seven games. He withdrew from classes at Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami in January, bypassing the NCAA’s transfer portal.
Big Ten Stands With Wisconsin
In a further twist, the Big Ten publicly voiced its support for Wisconsin's lawsuit in June, stating 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.”
Transfer Portal Under Fire
This legal battle highlights the growing tension surrounding the NCAA transfer portal. Coaches have criticized the ease with which athletes can "hit free agency," while players increasingly leverage schools against each other for lucrative NIL deals.