The NCAA has responded to the lawsuit filed in Tennessee and Virginia that challenges the use of NIL recruiting rules.
According to Teresa M. Walker of The. Associated Press, the NCAA released a 25-page response that “asks a judge to deny both motions” of a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction sought by Tennessee and Virginia.
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The NCAA “says the states of Tennessee and Virginia threaten to throw college sports into “disarray” if granted the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction,” according to the AP.
“There is no reason to upend this process, invite chaos on a moment’s notice, and transform college sports into an environment where players and schools match up based primarily on the dollars that can change hands,” the NCAA stated via the AP.
On Wednesday, the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia filed an antitrust lawsuit “that challenged its ban on the use of name, image and likeness compensation in the recruitment of college athletes,” according to Pete Thamel of ESPN.
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The lawsuit comes in response to an NCAA investigation into Tennessee over NIL violations, and there is potential for “multiple” Level 1 and Level 2 violations, according to Thamel.
The NIL deal receiving most scrutiny is Tennessee’s recruitment of former five-star recruit and quarterback Nico Iamaleava and his NIL contract with the primarily Volunteers collective Spyre Sports Group.
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A judge will hear a request by the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia for a preliminary injunction “that would put on hold NCAA rules banning recruiting inducements and pay-for-play” on Feb. 13, according to the AP.
Tennessee and Virginia “have until Sunday night to respond to the NCAA’s request to deny the requests for the temporary restraining order and injunction,” according to the AP.
