The University of Wisconsin’s contention that there were signs that former football player Xavier Lucas had already started negotiating a deal to transfer to Miami before he parted with the Badgers can be explored, a Dane County Judge ruled Wednesday.
Judge Stephen Ehlke said it was a “fair inference” by Wisconsin that Lucas had put the wheels in motion with Miami while in the state despite having signed name, image and likeness agreements with the Badgers and their collective.
Ehlke ruled on a motion for targeted jurisdictional discovery. The plaintiffs, the Wisconsin Board of Regents and VC Connect LLC, wanted to force Miami and Lucas to turn over documents and be deposed to try to establish that Miami had sufficient business ties to Wisconsin to be sued here.
Miami, the sole defendant, earlier filed a motion to dismiss the tampering lawsuit, claiming it didn’t have the contacts necessary in the state to be subject to jurisdiction.
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Ehlke denied Wisconsin’s motion for general jurisdiction in the case but granted a motion for limited specific jurisdiction so Wisconsin can test Miami’s arguments against having enough connections to the state.
Xavier Lucas celebrates after Miami’s victory against Notre Dame on Aug. 31.
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Wisconsin and VC Connect asked Ehlke to subpoena Lucas for items from Aug. 1, 2024, to Jan. 13, 2025. The latter is the date that Lucas unenrolled from Wisconsin, the school said in the lawsuit’s original complaint, amid a dispute over Wisconsin not putting him in the transfer portal. Wisconsin said in its June 20 complaint that Lucas signed agreements with it and the collective but Miami interfered with them.
The plaintiffs are looking for communications between Lucas and Miami and between Lucas and his former high school coach. They also seek documents indicating contact between Miami and Lucas’ mother or high school coach. Another search is for records of contact between Lucas and his mother, high school coach or anyone else acting on his behalf related to the transfer portal, transferring to Miami and name, image and likeness compensation.
Wisconsin and VC Connect also want Miami to turn over documents, communications, recruiting records and contracts. Targeted jurisdictional discovery allows a plaintiff to gather evidence to try to prove the defendant can be brought to trial in a particular court.
Miami called the request a “fishing expedition” and said it was mere speculation that anyone representing the school had contact with Lucas, his mother or his former high school coach to try to persuade him to break agreements with Wisconsin and VC Connect. Ehlke said in an oral ruling read to attorneys over the phone that he disagreed.
Wisconsin and VC Connect said in a court filing that there was “clear tension” between the events they alleged in their complaint leading to Lucas’ departure and Lucas’ response that he had no communication with Miami before deciding to transfer there.
Ehlke ruled that Wisconsin should be allowed to test the assertions made in unsworn declarations by Lucas and Miami general counsel Judd Goldberg.
The judge told the parties to come to an agreement on the scope of discovery in the case by the end of October. The process of depositions and document sharing is expected to play out over the next four months.
It’s only a preliminary aspect of the case that has ramifications on transfers and NIL contracts in college sports.
Lucas, a cornerback who played the 2024 season with the Badgers, asked to be placed in the transfer portal in December, 15 days after he signed NIL agreements, according to Wisconsin’s civil complaint. Wisconsin said in a public statement that it had “credible information indicating impermissible contact between Xavier and University of Miami football program personnel prior to Xavier’s request to enter the transfer portal.”
BadgerExtra made a public records request for documents explaining that information but the university denied it, citing student educational records privacy laws and attorney-client privilege.
Wisconsin didn’t put Lucas in the transfer portal; it said it had an enforceable contract with him. Lucas got around that by unenrolling from Wisconsin and signing up for classes at Miami, a move not prevented by NCAA rules.
The lawsuit filed by Wisconsin and VC Connect accused Miami of tortious interference with the contracts they had with Lucas.
Photos: Wisconsin football hosts Iowa for homecoming
Wisconsin players warm up before the game against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) talks with a coach before the game against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin wide receiver Chris Brooks Jr. (1) runs with the ball during warmups before playing Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell puts his hands on his hips during warmups before the Badgers play Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes yells during warmups before playing Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin fans wait for the game to begin against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell walks off the field after warmups before the Badgers play Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Cody Raymond (56) celebrates after a tackle against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Hunter Simmons (15) hands the ball off to Wisconsin Badgers running back Dilin Jones (7) against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell looks towards the video board against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Christian Alliegro (0) forces Iowa running back Kamari Moulton (28) out of bounds on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Iowa defensive end Brian Allen (90) blocks a pass by Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Hunter Simmons (15) on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Iowa defensive lineman Bryce Hawthorne (96) looks up to catch a deflected pass against Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Iowa defensive lineman Bryce Hawthorne (96) celebrates after an interception against Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Hunter Simmons (15) looks to make a pass against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Ricardo Hallman (2) makes an interception against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Ricardo Hallman (2) celebrates with teammates after making an interception against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Hunter Simmons (15) looks to pass against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin and Iowa players run for a live ball on the ground that would be recovered by Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Hunter Simmons (15) makes a pass while jumping in the air against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Fans react after Wisconsin failed to convert on a fourth down on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Iowa running back Kamari Moulton (28) runs in to the end zone for a touchdown against Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Iowa running back Kamari Moulton (28) celebrates after a touchdown against Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin fans react after a play in the end zone resulted in an incompletion on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers running back Dilin Jones (7) is mauled by Iowa defenders on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers running back Dilin Jones (7) is sent to the ground by Iowa defenders on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers punter Atticus Bertrams (49) punts the ball away against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Iowa running back Kamari Moulton (28) finds a hole against Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Iowa running back Xavier Williams (26) runs in to the end zone for a touchdown on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin students make their way to the exit after “Jump Around” while playing Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin students watch the fourth quarter of the Badgers’ game against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Iowa running back Xavier Williams (26) celebrates with tight end Michael Burt (80) after a touchdown by Williams on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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The Wisconsin student section sits mostly empty with six minutes left to play in the fourth quarter against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin Badgers running back Dilin Jones (7) is tackled by Iowa defenders on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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Wisconsin huddles up during “Jump Around” before the start of the fourth quarter against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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The Wisconsin band dances in front of an emptied out student section while the Badgers play Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Camp Randall in Madison, Wi.
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