LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The University of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit Friday saying Miami’s football team tampered with a Badgers player under a name, image and likeness contract, ESPN reports.

The first-of-its-kind lawsuit mentions freshman defensive back Xavier Lucas, who left Wisconsin for Miami in January.

According to ESPN, the Badgers staff refused to enter Lucas’ name into the transfer portal because he had signed a two-year revenue sharing contract with the university.

In the lawsuit, Wisconsin claims that a Miami staff member and a prominent alumnus met with Lucas and his family at a relative’s home in Florida.

Miami offered Lucas money to transfer, which Wisconsin says is tortious interference by knowingly compelling a player to break the terms of his deal with the Badgers.

“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,” the school said in a statement sent to ESPN.

According to the complaint, Wisconsin decided to file suit in hopes that “during this watershed time for college athletics, this case will advance the overall integrity of the game by holding programs legally accountable when they wrongfully interfere with contractual commitments.”

ESPN said the pending case will determine whether schools can use NIL deals to keep players from transferring, even though the players aren’t technically employees of the university.

Starting July 1, schools will start paying their athletes directly.

SEE ALSO: Federal judge approves $2.8B settlement, paving way for US colleges to pay athletes millions

But right now, according to ESPN, several contracts between Big Ten schools and their players state that athletes are not being paid to play football for the university.

Since the school is technically paying only to use the player’s NIL rights, it’s unclear if a judge will enforce a part of the contract that dictates where the player attends school.

The Big Ten said in a statement to ESPN that it supports Wisconsin’s decision to file the lawsuit and that Miami’s alleged actions “are irreconcilable with a sustainable college sports framework.”

NEW YORK — A former Syracuse University basketball player who worked recently for Sean “Diddy” Combs as a personal assistant testified at the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial on Friday that Combs got “extremely creative” when he was on drugs.

Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested last year at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he testified with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a year and a half. Paul was arrested in March 2024 — the same day federal agents conducted multiple searches related to the Combs’ investigation.

Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of testimony from an array of witnesses ranging from ex-girlfriends and former employees to male sex workers and the rapper Kid Cudi. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, even made a surprise appearance at the courthouse.

The prosecution seeks to convince the jury that Combs oversaw a sprawling racketeering enterprise for two decades that relied on obedience by employees willing to do anything for him, including buying drugs when necessary.

Defense lawyers say Combs did not commit federal crimes, although they acknowledge that prosecutors have exposed domestic violence during the trial. After pleading not guilty following his September arrest at a Manhattan hotel, Combs has been held without bail at a federal lockup in Brooklyn.

Prosecutors were expected to rest their case by Monday. A defense presentation is expected to last from two to five days.

Paul said he bought drugs for Combs between five and 10 times, spending up to $500 for drugs including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana.

He said he only did drugs with Combs once, when Combs asked him to try “tusi,” also known as pink cocaine, to see if it was good.

Paul said he did so because he “wanted to prove my loyalty” and said he thought it was good.

“We continued on with our night,” he told Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavic.

Paul said that prior to his arrest, he had forgotten about the cocaine after collecting it while “sweeping” Combs’ room that morning and had accidentally left it in a bag he carried as he prepared to go on vacation with Combs and other aides. The charges were dismissed after Paul completed a pretrial diversion program.

Under questioning by defense attorney Brian Steel, Paul said his “heart dropped” when he realized that there was cocaine in a travel bag after telling officers at the airport that everything in the bag belonged to him.

Steel asked Paul if Combs was generally happy and didn’t hurt anyone when he was on drugs.

“He got extremely creative,” Paul responded.

At another point, Steel asked the witness: “You would not work for a criminal, would you?”

“Absolutely not,” Paul responded.

Slavic, though, elicited Paul’s mixed feelings about Combs when the prosecutor asked him just before he finished his testimony: “Sitting here today, how do you feel about Mr. Combs?”

“It’s complicated,” he answered.

Paul, originally from Cleveland, was a 6-foot-2 guard who walked on at Syracuse University and came off the bench in 16 games over two seasons, playing a total of 17 minutes and scored just 3 points. He later transferred to lower-tier Fairmont State University in West Virginia, where he played for two more seasons.

The University of Wisconsin has filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami for allegedly tampering with former player Xavier Lucas, who signed with the Hurricanes during the winter transfer portal cycle and is vying for a starting position in the secondary this season. According to documents obtained by Yahoo Sports, the Badgers are accusing Miami of poaching Lucas away from their roster ahead of the 2025 season and reaching out to the player despite his contract situation in the Big Ten.

Wisconsin denied a request from Lucas to enter the transfer portal in December, citing his previously signed revenue-sharing agreement. That document, dated Dec. 2, is part of the proof from the Badgers, who also attest Lucas was under contract for a separate NIL-related deal.

NCAA bylaws mandate that universities must enter players into the transfer portal within two business days of a request. 

CBS Sports obtained the following statement from Wisconsin on the lawsuit:

“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.  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.”

In a statement provided to CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello, the Big Ten voiced its support for the Badgers in this case. 

“The Big Ten Conference is aware of the litigation recently filed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison against the University of Miami and is supportive of UW-Madison’s position,” the statement reads. “As alleged, the University of Miami knowingly ignored contractual obligations and disregarded the principle of competitive equity that is fundamental to collegiate athletics. The Big Ten Conference believes 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 it.”

Last season as true freshman at Wisconsin, Lucas made one start and tallied 203 defensive snaps, contributing 18 tackles, one sack and an interception.

The Badgers told Yahoo Sports they “reluctantly” decided to pursue legal action to ensure integrity in an ever-changing landscape across the sport.

Lawyer Darren Heitner, who is representing Lucas, previously argued the contract Lucas signed at Wisconsin is only a memorandum of understanding and isn’t enforceable until the settlement was finalized. That was approved earlier this month and allows colleges to directly pay players beginning July 1.