By Adam | SoFlo Sports Buzz
June 22, 2025 | Miami, Florida
The University of Wisconsin has decided to sue the University of Miami—yes, file a lawsuit—alleging tortious interference after Hurricanes staff and a “prominent” alum reportedly met with former Badger defensive back Xavier Lucas and his family in Florida, before he entered the transfer portal. Wisconsin claims that Miami’s actions caused Lucas to “breach” his implied binding agreement to stay with the Badgers and is seeking unspecified damages.
The Lawsuit: Claims & Context
Let’s break this down. The suit, filed in a Dane County circuit court in Wisconsin, accuses Miami of “intentional interference” with Wisconsin’s relationship with Lucas. The heart of their argument? That someone from The U contacted Lucas prematurely—before he officially hit the transfer portal—and persuaded him to leave Madison .
That’s a heavy charge. But College Football 2025 isn’t the same game it was a decade ago.
Portal Wild West: Rules Are Looser Than You Think
It’s no secret: the transfer portal era has turned college football into the pre-Olympic athlete market—chaotic, opportunistic, and full of gray zones. School A whispers to a kid still on campus at School B. It happens. All. The. Time.
Miami’s defense? Simple: even if they did talk to Lucas, there’s no solid evidence suggesting rules were broken. As far as the public record shows, there were no emails, DMs, or voice memos. Just a lawsuit saying “trust us”.
Timing Is Everything — And It Wasn’t Great for Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s claim faces a real-world timing snag: the NCAA’s tampering rules enforcement is effectively on pause. A federal court recently issued a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of these rules, labeling them likely anticompetitive—right in sync with the Lucas lawsuit timing .
So Wisconsin is banking on enforcement that the NCAA currently can’t pursue. It’s like suing someone for parking in a spot while nobody’s selling parking tickets.
Miami’s Advantage: They’re on Home Ground
From Miami’s perspective, there’s zero alarm. They’ll file a motion to dismiss based on two fronts:
- No proof of wrongdoing — only a declaration from Wisconsin that “something happened.”
- Jurisdictional problems — does a Wisconsin court even have the right to intervene in a Florida school’s actions?
Miami was just smart enough to meet Lucas near his hometown in Florida. This wasn’t Miami with secret helicopters—it was a guy wanting to come back home.
Bigger Picture: The Danger of Copycat Lawsuits
What’s unnerving here isn’t Lucas or Miami—it’s Wisconsin setting a precedent. If courts start treating transfer portal movements as legal disputes, every Power Fiver—or mid-major—will be loading up civil suits every spring.
Suddenly we have Courtroom Cornerbacks, not just campus ones. And who wants to see free agency in college football devolve into docket drama?
Final Take: Swipe Right for Common Sense
Let’s be real—Wisconsin is frustrated. Fine. They lost a kid, feel blindsided, and want someone to blame. But this lawsuit? It’s misguided and probably doomed.
- No hard evidence.
- NCAA can’t penalize right now.
- Jurisdiction… questionable at best.
If Wisconsin wants remedies, they should have gone to the NCAA—or gotten smarter recruiting their own roster. Bringing this to state court is a last resort, and a weak one at that.
Let’s ditch the drama, let Lucas suit up, and let The U keep building momentum—on the field, not the courthouse steps.