Miami Facing Groundbreaking NIL Lawsuit Over Alleged Player Tampering originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The ever-evolving world of college athletics, particularly NIL, may have reached a legal tipping point. The University of Miami now finds itself at the center of a groundbreaking lawsuit filed by the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective, focused on alleged tampering involving cornerback Xavier Lucas.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a complaint in state circuit court, claiming “tortious interference” by Miami. The complaint alleges that the Hurricanes made impermissible contact with Lucas while he was still under contract with Wisconsin. This is believed to be the first legal action of its kind directly tied to NIL-era tampering.
At the heart of the case is Lucas, a South Florida native who signed a new contract with Wisconsin in December before transferring to Miami in January, without formally entering the NCAA transfer portal. The Badgers allege that Miami knowingly engaged with Lucas despite his existing agreement, which resulted in him breaching that deal and transferring.
“Miami interfered with UW-Madison’s relationship with Student-Athlete A by making impermissible contact with him and engaging in tampering,” the suit reads, with Wisconsin seeking “unspecified damages, transparency, and accountability.”
Whether the courts agree remains to be seen. However, legal experts and college football insiders believe this case could set a precedent for how tampering is defined and enforced moving forward. For now, Lucas remains eligible to play for the Hurricanes this fall, where he’s expected to make an immediate impact on a secondary that allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns per game in the ACC last season.
Lucas was 247Sports’ 20th overall player and first-ranked cornerback in the transfer portal this offseason. His addition was viewed as a major win for new Hurricanes defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s defense, and it now carries potentially significant off-field implications.
As the NIL era continues to evolve, Miami’s role in this case could shape how schools recruit, retain, and protect their athletes and navigate the legal lines surrounding NIL, player contracts, and tampering. The Hurricanes have not yet issued a public statement on the lawsuit.
Related: Rookie QB Cam Ward’s Surprising Trash Talk Highlights His Confidence at Titans OTAs
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
