Skip to main content

Hearing scheduled in Tennessee, Virginia NIL lawsuit versus NCAA

Nakos updated headshotby:Pete Nakos02/02/24

PeteNakos_

Tennessee NCAA
USA Today Network

A hearing has been set in Tennessee and Virginia’s legal fight with the NCAA regarding the body’s ban on NIL in high school recruiting.

According to the docket report, a preliminary injunction hearing has been scheduled for Monday, Feb. 13 in the Eastern District of Tennessee. The attorneys general in the two states filed the lawsuit on Wednesday, following the NCAA launching an investigation into Tennessee athletics for potential NIL violations.

Along with the lawsuit against the NCAA, the attorneys general have requested a temporary restraining order that would bar the NCAA from enforcing its NIL inducement ban for recruits and players in the transfer portal.

The NCAA has until Saturday at 6 p.m. ET to reply to the TRO motion. Tennessee and Virginia have until Sunday at 6 p.m. ET to respond. A scheduling conference was held on Thursday night to finalize these dates.

What’s at stake with Tennessee, NCAA lawsuit?

At its root, it’s an antitrust lawsuit arguing the body does not have the right to put restrictions on compensating college athletes.

Top 10

  1. 1

    Desean Jackson

    Finalizing deal to be college HC

    New
  2. 2

    Jim Larranaga

    Miami HC set to step down

  3. 3

    CFP selection process

    Urban Meyer predicts changes

    Hot
  4. 4

    National Championship odds

    Updated odds are in

  5. 5

    LaNorris Sellers

    South Carolina QB signs NIL deal to return

View All

This comes as the NCAA starts to show its teeth and govern the NIL landscape. The NCAA recently levied sanctions on Florida State and is also investigating Florida for the Jaden Rashada saga – both are cases allegedly involving recruiting infractions involving NIL collectives.

Tennessee’s fight against the NCAA won’t be stopping in the courtroom, though. Tennessee athletic director Danny White released a blistering statement on Thursday.

“The NCAA generally does not comment on infractions cases because there is a rule against it; however, that has not stopped them in the past from leaking information to the media as they did this week about us,” his letter, released on social media, stated.

“I refuse to allow the NCAA to irrationally use Tennessee as an example of their own agenda.”

In the wake of this week’s news, The Big Ten and SEC have also announced they will form an advisory group “to address the significant challenges facing college athletics and the opportunities for the betterment of the student-athlete experience.”