Duke University quarterback Darian Mensah can’t enroll at another school, play football at another school or license his name, image or likeness to another school at this time, a judge ruled in a lawsuit filed by Duke this week.
As reported by NBC affiliate WRAL in Raleigh, N.C., judge Michael O’Foghludha wrote in his opinion Tuesday that Mensah is allowed to enter the transfer portal. Meanwhile, the aforementioned restrictions are in effect until Feb. 2, when there will be a preliminary injunction hearing.
Duke filed its lawsuit against the former Tulane University quarterback, who entered the transfer portal last Friday after one year at Duke.
According to WVUE in Tulane's native New Orleans, citing a report in Sportico, Duke alleges Mensah breached a multiyear NIL contract that runs through Dec. 31, 2026. It was revealed that Mensah signed a two-year NIL deal with the Blue Devils totaling $8 million. Mensah started for Tulane in 2024 before entering the transfer portal last week.
The lawsuit, filed in Durham County Superior Court, sought an injunction and a restraining order that would prevent Mensah from leaving the Blue Devils and joining another program.
“Mr. Mensah has an existing contract with Duke which the university intends to honor, and we expect he will do the same,” Duke said in a statement, as reported by WRAL. “The court-ordered temporary restraining order (TRO) issued yesterday ensures he does not violate his contract. The university is committed to supporting all our student-athletes, while expecting each of them to abide by their contractual obligations.”
Mensah's two-season contract with Duke, signed before the 2025 season, is worth a reported $4 million per season. He led the Blue Devils to the ACC championship and earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. In December, Mensah recommitted to Duke, posting a social media video announcing his intentions.
But, according to WRAL's Brian Murphy, Mensah announced on Jan. 16, the last day for players to enter the transfer portal, that he intended to transfer. He emailed Duke asking that the school enter his name into the transfer portal.
The University of Miami, which lost this year's national championship game to Indiana on Monday, is his expected destination, according to Murphy.
