In the span of one week, Duke University quarterback Darian Mensah went from being a fan-favorite player to the subject of a jaw-dropping lawsuit from the university. Now, his decision to transfer has sparked debates over name, image and likeness (NIL) contracts and can potentially shake up the college sports scene for good.
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From the outside looking in, Mensah’s relationship with Duke seemed like a match made in heaven. The 20-year-old transferred to the Blue Devils team back in 2024, and he immediately became a fan favorite. He led Duke to an ACC title with a 9-5 winning record this past season. The school even announced in December that Mensah was staying for at least another season.
So when Mensah told head coach Manny Diaz he was planning to leave Duke months before his two-year, $8 million contract expired to enter the transfer portal, everyone was shocked, according to ESPN.
“I’m forever grateful for Duke and the coaching staff. Thank you Duke family for everything,” Mensah tweeted on Jan. 16. “This wasn’t an easy decision, but after talking with my family, I believe it’s in my best interest to enter the transfer portal.”
There’s just one problem with Mensah’s plan, however. The QB is currently NIL contract with Duke, allowing Mensah to make money through football sponsorships and advertisements, all connected through the university. His NIL deal is supposed to end in Dec. 2026, freeing him up to play and license himself to whoever else he wants. This could mean more money in the 20-year-old’s pocket… Except for the fact that Duke University isn’t giving him up without a fight.
On Tuesday, (Jan. 20), the university filed a lawsuit to stop Mensah from breaching his contract with them, ESPN reported. “He repudiated the contract,” the lawsuit against Mensah read. “He proposes now to move on to another collegiate institution and act as if his obligations to Duke University do not exist. None of these facts can be disputed. But contracts mean something.”
The school also requested a temporary restraining order to stop Mensah from entering the portal while the lawsuit plays out. A judge dismissed Duke’s request, according to reports. For now, it seems Mensah’s plan to enter the transfer portal will go off as planned, according to the New York Times. Still, Duke’s lawsuit sets a dangerous precedent for future athletes facing similar situations.
NIL deals are more recent than you may think. They only became legal in the U.S. in 2021, following widespread lawsuits that forced the NCAA to reexamine how athletes are paid. For decades, athletes generated billions in revenue for colleges every single year– specifically football and basketball– through ticket sales, television deals and sponsorships, all while players saw none of the money.
That is until a landmark Supreme Court ruling opened the floodgates for athletes to sign NIL deals without fears of retaliation. Fast forward to now, when the College Sports Commission reportedly cleared more than 8,300 NIL deals worth a total of $80 million, according to a 2025 ESPN report.
With NIL contracts expected to become increasingly popular among college players, Duke’s lawsuit against its star player could usher in stricter contracts or even lead to lower payouts for contract-bound athletes.
Mensah is expected to enter the transfer portal. Although he has not confirmed, he’s reportedly been linked to the University of Miami.
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