After battling with the Wisconsin Badgers over the past month to get his name on the transfer portal after signing a revenue-sharing agreement with the school, wide receiver Xavier Lucas has now decommitted and enrolled in Miami.

This has the makings of one of the most groundbreaking moves we’ve seen in college athletics when it comes to how the transfer portal works, and it could lead to significant changes in the future. This whole ordeal started when Xavier Lucas decided he wanted to move out of Wisconsin to find a school closer to home, in the eyes of the broadband phone.

But there was a problem for Lucas, and it all revolved around a two-year deal he signed with the school tied to the upcoming revenue-sharing model, which has yet to be approved by a judge, according to his attorney, Darren Heitner.

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So the school felt as though it had a financial deal in place and would not enter his name into the transfer portal’s database.

If you are not familiar with how the portal works, the school is required to enter a player’s name into the database once he or she has completed the necessary paperwork to enter. As we’ve seen over the past few years, the transfer portal has continued to be one of the most talked about subjects in all of college athletics.

Just this year, the rules committee decided to shorten the period the portal would be open from December 9th to December 24th.

Players participating in the postseason get a five-day extension when their season ends, which helped those still competing in the College Football Playoff.

Attorney for Xavier Lucas speaks with OutKick’s Trey Wallace

In the case of Xavier Lucas, he had submitted his paperwork on time, but the school insisted on not entering his name into the database due to a revenue sharing agreement that both parties signed before Lucas attempted to enter his name into the portal.

The contract agreement at the center of this dispute was a memorandum of understanding (MOU) giving the school all rights to that player’s name, image and likeness, meaning Wisconsin or any other school could use his name for those purposes and Lucas would be paid in return.

OutKick spoke with Darren Heitner, who represents Xavier Lucas in this case, about the deal.

“The Memorandum of Agreement is subject to the approval of House settlement (which has not yet received final approval) and Xavier attends classes no later than the spring of 2025 (he has deregistered from the institution),” noted Heitner. “In addition, he sought to enter his name in the transfer portal, but the institution wrongfully denied his right to do so, which is a violation of NCAA rules. Despite this, the institution has not paid him any money and he therefore owes no refund to the institution.”

It was also noted by Heitner that the father of Xavier Lucas is currently dealing with a health issue that led to the former Badger wanting to move closer to home.

In short, the school and Xavier Lucas agreed to a deal that is not currently legal because House v. NCAA settlement has not been approved by a judge.

This sets a new precedent for the transfer portal in college athletics

Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is escorted by a member of the practice staff during the fourth quarter of their game against South Dakota, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. (Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK)

One of the main takeaways from this whole ordeal is that former Wisconsin receiver Xavier Lucas decided not to go through the transfer portal on his way to Miami. After waiting for the school to enter his name into the database, Lucas decommitted himself from Wisconsin and has now enrolled at Miami.

Yes, there have been other schools that have signed players to deals under the impression that the revenue sharing agreement would be approved by a judge, but this issue of a player and a program fighting over the legality of a contract is a first , which is public. discussed.

Now we could see a monster shift in how players decide to transfer, outside of the actual portal periods. Right now, if a player wanted to transfer, he would have to do it as a ‘Graduate Transfer’. But with Xavier Lucas deciding not to use the portal and enrolling at another institution outside the window sets a new precedent for how players can potentially leave.

“NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from withdrawing from one institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately,” an NCAA spokesman noted in a statement tonight.

Darren Heitner mentioned to Yahoo Sports that when Xavier Lucas tried a last-ditch effort to discuss the matter with Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, he tried to talk Lucas into staying.

It is obviously a massive development for players in all sports. As for whether Wisconsin will sue Xavier Lucas for his NIL rights while at Miami, attorney Darren Heitner told OutKick’s Trey Wallace that it would only tarnish the school’s reputation further.

“The most short-term move for Wisconsin to do would be to sue,” Heitner noted. “The institution has no leg to stand on and it will only further tarnish a reputation that they have already done enough damage to by their own misdeeds.”

As for what’s next in the college career for Xavier Lucas, he will look to put this behind him and contribute to the Miami Hurricanes.

But it’s an unconventional way to get to Miami that could change the rules around the transfer portal, or therefore the lack of actual use of a time period attached to the window itself.