Darian Mensah’s Transfer Saga: Duke’s Star QB Faces Legal Roadblock Amid NIL Contract Dispute
The college football offseason just got a lot more complicated. For the second time in recent weeks, a high-profile quarterback is at the center of a legal storm, this time involving Duke’s Darian Mensah - a rising star under center and one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal.
Mensah, who led Duke to an ACC title and earned second-team All-ACC honors this past season, now finds himself in a tug-of-war with the very program he helped elevate. The Blue Devils are suing their quarterback, aiming to block his exit from the program after he announced plans to transfer - a move that could have far-reaching implications not just for Duke, but for the evolving landscape of NIL contracts and player movement across college football.
A Sudden Change of Plans
Back in December, Mensah seemed locked in for another season in Durham. He publicly committed to returning to Duke for the 2026 campaign, and according to reports, he was under contract through next season. But just a few weeks later, on January 16 - the final day players could officially enter the transfer portal - Mensah informed the Blue Devils he was changing course.
In a statement shared on social media, Mensah thanked the Duke community and said the decision to transfer came after deep conversations with his family. “This wasn’t an easy decision,” he wrote, “but after talking with my family, I believe it's in my best interest to enter the transfer portal.”
That announcement set off immediate speculation about his next move, with Miami emerging as a potential landing spot. Reports indicated that Mensah had plans to join the Hurricanes, but there was a major complication - his NIL agreement with Duke.
The Contract Complication
When Mensah transferred from Tulane to Duke in 2024, he signed a two-year revenue-sharing deal reportedly worth over $3 million per year. That contract, according to The Athletic, was agreed upon before the NCAA’s new revenue-sharing rules were fully in place, meaning there’s little precedent for what happens when a player tries to exit such a deal early.
The contract reportedly grants Duke a range of rights tied to Mensah’s name, image, and likeness - including exclusivity clauses that could prevent another school from using his NIL. That’s the crux of the legal fight now underway.
With uncertainty swirling over whether Mensah could buy out his contract, whether another school could step in financially, or whether Duke would retain any control over his NIL rights, the Blue Devils made their move. On January 20, Duke filed a lawsuit against Mensah, seeking to block him from transferring, enrolling at another school, or licensing his NIL elsewhere.
Duke’s Legal Push
According to the lawsuit, Duke is requesting a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a preliminary injunction that would effectively freeze Mensah’s transfer. The school is asking the court to prevent him from entering the portal, joining another program, and using his NIL with any other institution.
This isn’t just about keeping a star quarterback in-house - it’s about setting a precedent in the new era of college football, where NIL contracts are increasingly resembling professional-style agreements. Duke’s legal filing leans heavily on the terms of Mensah’s deal, which, according to Ross Dellenger, includes language that explicitly prohibits other universities from utilizing his NIL.
What’s Next?
At the heart of this dispute is a question that college football hasn’t had to answer until now: What happens when a player under a lucrative NIL contract wants out?
Mensah’s situation is unique, but it may not be for long. As more programs and players dive into multi-million dollar NIL agreements, the lines between amateur and professional athletics continue to blur. Mensah, whose NIL valuation is estimated at $1.9 million, is one of the first major test cases for how enforceable these contracts really are - and what rights schools actually have when a player decides to leave.
Back in June 2025, Mensah spoke about his decision to join Duke, saying, “I knew this move would set my family up for financial freedom. Those are some of the things that went into that decision. Obviously the NIL component was pretty important, but it wasn’t the primary focus.”
Now, that very component has become the centerpiece of a legal battle that could reshape how NIL contracts are viewed - and enforced - across the sport.
As the case unfolds, one thing is clear: this isn’t just about one quarterback’s transfer. It’s a watershed moment in college football’s NIL era, and everyone - players, programs, and legal teams alike - will be watching closely.