I hadn't heard this one before....but it's in the news because the University of Miami's football schedule is out & they play DUKE for Homecoming Nov. 14, 2026.
Last year, Duke threw $8 million in NIL at Tulane quarterback, Darian Mensah and he performed well in 2025, leading Duke to an ACC Championship.
But then he snubbed Duke & chose to enter the transfer portal looking for an even bigger payday... eventually signing with Miami.
Duke sued him for breaching his contract, and getting a temporary injunction preventing Mensah from signing anywhere else.
Miami needed a quarterback and wasn't going to wait all spring & summer for legal proceedings so Mensah negotiated and
had to pay an (unspecified) buyout (reportedly millions) to Duke to get out of that mess and sign at Miami.
In the end, it proves what we all knew- that the big schools with the big money can cherry pick and get any & every top player,
any time they want - it's just a matter of how much $$ it will take. Even the big schools (Duke) get looted by even bigger guys.
Last year, Duke threw $8 million in NIL at Tulane quarterback, Darian Mensah and he performed well in 2025, leading Duke to an ACC Championship.
But then he snubbed Duke & chose to enter the transfer portal looking for an even bigger payday... eventually signing with Miami.
Duke sued him for breaching his contract, and getting a temporary injunction preventing Mensah from signing anywhere else.
Miami needed a quarterback and wasn't going to wait all spring & summer for legal proceedings so Mensah negotiated and
had to pay an (unspecified) buyout (reportedly millions) to Duke to get out of that mess and sign at Miami.
In the end, it proves what we all knew- that the big schools with the big money can cherry pick and get any & every top player,
any time they want - it's just a matter of how much $$ it will take. Even the big schools (Duke) get looted by even bigger guys.