(This story was updated to add new information.)
Wisconsin football released a statement on cornerback Xavier Lucas’ reported departure to Miami on Saturday.
News of his move came on Friday. Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger was the first to report that Lucas was leaving for Miami without officially entering the transfer portal. Wisconsin had held the standout freshman cornerback out of the portal after he “signed a two-year revenue-share agreement” in early December, per Dellenger.
Related: Significant takeaways from Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas leaving for Miami
Lucas’ camp has been adamant about Wisconsin’s wrongdoing. His lawyer was posting to X on Saturday morning, a full 12 hours after Friday’s news, his opinion that Wisconsin was in violation of NCAA bylaws.
The Badgers finally issued their response on Saturday evening. Here are the highlights:
“On December 2, Xavier and Wisconsin Athletics entered into a binding two-year NIL agreement reflecting his strong commitment to continuing with the Wisconsin football program. We understand that he also executed a similar agreement with the Varsity Collective. His agreement with Wisconsin Athletics included substantial financial compensation for Xavier. Under the terms of the agreement between Xavier and Wisconsin Athletics, it remains in effect and enforceable…
Under the transfer portal provision used by Xavier this past week, any contact between a student-athlete enrolled at one institution and the football program to which they are transferring is prohibited per NCAA rules. We have credible information indicating impermissible contact between Xavier and the University of Miami football program personnel prior to Xavier’s request to enter the transfer portal. Direct interference with another institution’s committed player and contractual interests is prohibited by NCAA tampering rules and law…
We continue to review facts as they unfold in this manner and will evaluate all options going forward to determine the appropriate course of action.”
Here is a link to the full statement, courtesy of ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Thamel also followed up on X, noting that “The Big Ten is expected to come out strongly in support of Wisconsin…The Big Ten believes that Miami’s actions are ‘inconsistent with all the work toward a new framework being done by the A4 leagues, including the ACC,’ per a source.”
In other words, what began as a Lucas vs. Wisconsin issue is likely to expand to the Big Ten vs. the ACC vs. NCAA.
(Update: The Big Ten released a statement on Saturday, saying it is “in full support of Wisconsin regarding the contractual agreement between student-athlete Xavier Lucas and the Wisconsin football program”).
As we indicated after Lucas’ reported departure to Miami, this situation is likely far from a resolution. Saturday’s release is Wisconsin’s first public statement on the matter. It follows much of the information that had previously been reported by BadgerExtra’s Colten Bartholomew: the program believes that Lucas is in violation of an agreement he signed in the days before expressing his intention to enter the portal.
What happens next is hard to predict. Lucas may have a hard time suiting up for Miami in 2025 without significant litigation occurring. It has the makings of a college football-wide battle that could shape the future of the sport and its structure.
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