College sports are rapidly evolving, and recently, it took another step to the professional level after a judge in California settled on a revenue-sharing agreement between the NCAA and players. Now, athletes are allowed to play directly for schools up to about $20 million a year on top of the NIL money. The NIL money is now regulated under the new CEO of the College Sports Commission, Bryan Seeley.

West Virginia and AD Wren Baker released a statement on the new ruling and stated West Virginia planned “for this day for a long time to best position our department for long-term success,” and they weren’t joking around.

Wednesday morning, West Virginia athletics announced the creation of Gold & Blue Enterprises, which is an initiative to “enhance the Mountaineers’ competitive edge,” according to a press release.

The program’s main features are to create a comprehensive NIL support, collaborate with strategic partners, build an innovative business structure, and dedicate leadership and governance.

The comprehensive NIL support is supposed to create services that help student athletes grow their brand to maximize their NIL potential and help with education. WVU already has some NIL collectives, like the Country Roads Trust, but this is the university’s collective. This goes hand in hand with the strategic partners part, which connects student athletes with agencies to make endorsement opportunities.

The innovative business is vague, but it’s said Gold & Blue Enterprises is operating with a “private-sector approach,” supporting the long-term sustainability of WVU sports.

A dedicated leadership and governance is supposed to be created too, but who will be a part of that hasn’t been announced.

This type of university NIL initiative isn’t something new. Once the ruling changed, multiple schools created something like this. Almost all schools had these types of supports created a couple of months ago when this case was brought to the courts in the early spring. In the release, it states that Gold & Blue Enterprises “draws inspiration” from other schools.

There is a dedicated site, goldandblueenterprises.com, but it’s very barebones as of now. It’s mainly a link to donate.

The timeliness of this release shows Baker’s commitment to making WVU consistently competitive and giving the coaches, who have been hired most recently under his leadership, the tools to succeed. Now, the coaches have to do their part and show it on the field/court.

“The launch of Gold & Blue Enterprises is a major breakthrough for WVU Athletics and its student-athletes,” Baker said in the release. “We are taking a hands-on approach to maximize Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for our students and develop innovative partnerships to generate the revenues we need to thrive. I want to thank everyone involved with helping to create and launch this proactive business venture that will work to keep WVU relevant and winning on the national stage. In today’s competitive NIL industry, the launch of GBE is a victory for all Mountaineers.”

In an unprecedented moment in college football, the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective filed a complaint Friday against the University of Miami, alleging tortious interference. Filed Friday in a Wisconsin state circuit court, the Badgers allege that Miami poached freshman defensive back Xavier Lucas, who had signed a revenue-sharing contract with Wisconsin.

It is uncharted waters in college football. In the 23-page suit, Wisconsin is seeking financial damages and a judgment that Miami’s actions “wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.” Beyond that, however, Wisconsin is enforcing its contract with Lucas. The defensive back’s attorney, Darren Heitner, told On3 on Friday that Lucas was never compensated through the deal by Wisconsin.

Lucas is not named in the suit, instead cited as “Student Athlete A.” But Lucas publicly left Wisconsin for Miami this winter without ever entering the transfer portal. Heitner previously alleged Wisconsin of violating NCAA rules by not putting Lucas into the transfer portal after multiple requests. In the complaint filed Friday, Wisconsin alleges that a Miami staff member and alumnus met Lucas and his family at a relative’s home in Florida.

“Accordingly, at the conclusion of the 2024 season, UW-Madison and VC Connect offered, negotiated, and executed separate NIL contracts with Student-Athlete A, under which he would receive one of the most lucrative NIL financial commitments of any UW-Madison football player,” the complaint states. “Within days of contract execution, however, Miami knowingly induced Student-Athlete A to abandon his contractual commitments to Plaintiffs. As a result of Miami’s actions, Student-Athlete A abruptly left UW-Madison’s football program and enrolled at Miami, causing Plaintiffs to suffer substantial pecuniary and reputational harm.

“Miami’s actions are in direct contravention of not only the NCAA’s established anti-tampering rules—rules designed to maintain the integrity of the transfer process and ensure fair competition among member institutions—but also established contract and tort law.”

In another unprecedented situation, the Big Ten has publicly voiced its backing of Wisconsin for filing the suit, telling On3 in a statement 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.” Miami did not immediately respond to a request for comment from On3.

The suit will also put the NCAA transfer rules to the test. In recent years, the college football transfer portal has come under fire from coaches due to the ease with which athletes can hit free agency. Athletes have turned the portal into a payday, too, leveraging schools against each other for the highest contract offer.

But with the House v. NCAA settlement set to officially begin on July 1, revenue-sharing contracts have been drawn up by most of the Power Four in the last six months. Tampering has become prominent in the portal, but there has been minimal enforcement from the NCAA, which has been handicapped by lawsuits.

How a judge decides to rule on this lawsuit could define how the transfer portal is enforced and how revenue-sharing contracts will hold up in the courtroom. It could also prove to be a precedent-setting move if NIL contracts can keep athletes from transferring.

College athletes are currently not classified as employees and do not have collective bargaining power.

“These are the type of tampering allegations that are typically fought behind closed doors at the professional sports level based on the leagues’ collective bargaining agreement,” sports lawyer and professor Dan Lust told On3. “Here, in the absence of any type of similar mechanism at the collegiate level, this dispute is going to be fought in open court for the world to see the complex interplay of forces in and around the transfer portal. This is truly an unprecedented case and one that commands the attention of the college sports world.”

MADISON – The Xavier Lucas saga is far from over.

Yahoo Sports reported June 20 that the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective, the Varsity Collective, are suing the University of Miami for what is termed tortious interference with the former Badgers cornerback who is now a part of the Miami Hurricanes football team.

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The Journal Sentinel obtained a copy of the 23-page complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court on June 20. In the document Wisconsin provides a timeline for the NIL agreements it and the Varsity Collective reached with Lucas, offers details of how it alleges the Miami football program tampered with Lucas and allege a broader pattern of tampering in the Miami program with other student-athletes.

Wisconsin seeks damages for the financial and reputational harm it says it experienced, a declaration that Miami’s conduct with Lucas constituted tampering plus any other penalty the court deems proper.

“Now more than ever, it is imperative to protect the integrity and fundamental fairness of the game, including in connection with NIL contracts,” the complaint read. “Indeed, student-athletes’ newfound NIL rights will be rendered meaningless if third parties are allowed to induce student-athletes to abandon their contractual commitments.”

Xavier Lucas had a promising freshman season at Wisconsin

The case stems from Lucas’ controversial departure from the Badgers football program in December. The native of Pompano Beach, Florida, announced his intention to transfer Dec. 19.

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Losing Lucas was a blow to UW, which already had lost a handful of players from the secondary to the transfer portal. According to Pro Football Focus, Lucas played more snaps (203) than any freshman on the team last season. He played in all 12 games with one start and registered 18 tackles, one interception and one sack.

With the transfer portal scheduled to close Dec. 28, Lucas posted on X that the Wisconsin football program wrongfully declined to enter his name into the portal, a move that prevented other teams from contacting him without breaking NCAA rules.

In January, Lucas circumvented the transfer portal by withdrawing from Wisconsin and enrolling at Miami. He eventually joined Miami’s football team and participated in spring practice with the Hurricanes.

A few days after Lucas left UW, Wisconsin offered its side of the story. In a statement issued on Jan. 18, the university said it didn’t put Lucas’ name into the transfer portal because he signed a two-year NIL agreement Dec. 2 that it believed was still in effect and enforceable. The university also said Lucas entered into a separate agreement with Varsity Collective, which connects Badger athletes with NIL opportunities.

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Wisconsin also said in its January statement that it had credible information that indicated impermissible contact between Lucas and University of Miami personnel.

That information was detailed further in Wisconsin’s legal complaint.

Wisconsin outlines its allegations against Miami

The complaint provides more specific details of the allegations UW made against Miami in December, which include impermissible contact on multiple occasions with Lucas or his representatives. The complaint refers to Lucas as “Student-Athlete A” rather than using his name.

Among the allegations:

* A Miami coach and prominent alumnus visited Lucas at the Florida home of one of his relatives in December. UW says it received information about the in-home visit from a relative of Lucas on Dec. 18.

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* UW accused Miami of a broader culture of tampering, alleging that Miami went after a second player even though that player made a written commitment to another school, a commitment that was reflected in the transfer portal. The player wasn’t identified by name.

The University of Wisconsin, Big Ten issue statements

UW issued a statement. Here it is in its entirety.

“The University of Wisconsin-Madison remains committed to ensuring integrity and fundamental fairness in the evolving landscape of college athletics. After reviewing all facts and evaluating options, the university today filed a complaint in Wisconsin state court outlining our allegations against the University of Miami.

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“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. In addition to our legal action, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student-athletes, our program and the broader collegiate athletics community. We appreciate the support of our university leadership and the Big Ten Conference. As we move forward, we will respect the court process and provide further updates only as appropriate.”

The Big  Ten Conference, which publically supported UW in January, continued to voice its support.

Here is the statement the league issued to Yahoo on June 20.

“We stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field,” the statement said. “In addition to our legal acton, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student-athletes, our program and the broader collegiate athletics community.”

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An email seeking comment from the University of Miami has not received a response.

This story was updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin files lawsuit against Miami over Xavier Lucas’ departure

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.

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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.”

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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.