Miami files to dismiss Wisconsin lawsuit that alleges player tampering

Nearly two months after the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a lawsuit alleging another Power 4 program had tampered with one of its former players, the University of Miami responded Friday by filing a motion to dismiss the case.

Wisconsin alleged Miami committed tortious interference regarding a binding revenue-sharing deal involving defensive back Xavier Lucas, who left Madison to return home to South Florida to play for the Hurricanes in January.

Wisconsin refused to put Lucas’ name in the transfer portal after he told coaches shortly after returning home on winter break that he no longer wanted to attend the school. Instead of waiting for Wisconsin to comply, Lucas unenrolled from Wisconsin with the NCAA’s blessing and began classes at Miami this past spring. Lucas has been taking part in preseason camp at Miami.

Miami on Friday largely made its case that Wisconsin does not have jurisdiction to sue it in Wisconsin state circuit court. Part of Miami’s motion to dismiss included unsworn testimony from Lucas denying contact with anyone from Miami before he attempted to leave Wisconsin.

The suit adds a layer to the power struggle among schools, conferences and athletes, as athletes sign NIL and revenue-sharing deals but then decide to enter the transfer portal. Miami, in its response, scoffed at the notion that Wisconsin’s lawsuit was a “watershed” moment in college sports.

“Plaintiffs would have this Court believe that the very fate of college football hangs in the balance unless this Court acts. … The Court, it seems, is being asked not merely to resolve a dispute but to save the soul of college sports.”

In its lawsuit, Wisconsin alleged that a Miami coach and alumnus visited Lucas at his South Florida home in December 2024, which Lucas has denied.

Lucas told The Athletic last month that he met with Miami coaches at his home in December 2023 — when he was still a high school senior at Plantation American Heritage School. Of his decision to transfer after one season at Wisconsin, he said:

“Once I returned home (for Christmas break in 2024), I made the decision to enter the Transfer Portal and to transfer out of Wisconsin. I made that decision with input from family members and for personal reasons. I had no contact with anyone from or representing University of Miami regarding that decision, and no representative of University of Miami influenced that decision in any way.

“Once I decided to attempt to transfer to the University of Miami, I initiated contact with University of Miami. No one from the University of Miami initiated contact with me. I am unaware of any coach or alumnus of University of Miami visiting the home of any of my relatives in December 2024 and do not believe that such an event ever occurred.”

Wisconsin never named Lucas in its lawsuit and is seeking unspecified damages, as well as “a declaration that Miami’s conduct directed towards (Lucas) constituted tampering.”

 (Photo: John Fisher / Getty Images)