QB Darian Mensah seeks expedited court hearing in legal dispute with Duke
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mensah filed emergency motion to expedite hearing after Duke won TRO
- Duke alleges Mensah breached two-year contract and seeks injunctive relief
- Mensah says expedited ruling needed to preserve transfer opportunities elsewhere
Quarterback Darian Mensah has taken the next legal step in his attempt to leave Duke for another school, making an emergency motion that an expedited court hearing be held Friday.
Duke filed a lawsuit this week claiming that Mensah was in breach of his two-year contract with the school, and was granted a TRO preventing him from enrolling in another school.
A court date on his preliminary injunction hearing was set Feb. 2, but Mensah filed a motion that it be expedited to Friday because of “new evidence.” The hearing was moved up -- to Jan. 29.
According to a court document obtained by the News & Observer, Mensah claimed he was “unaware of enrollment deadlines that existed for other collegiate institutions who have indicated their interest in Mensah’s enrollment and playing football, and some of these deadlines expire Friday, January 23, 2026.”
Mensah, in his motion, said the expedited ruling was needed because a Feb. 2 hearing could “permanently foreclose opportunities” for him to enroll elsewhere and that a favorable ruling would “prevent manifest injustice.”
Mensah, who led the Blue Devils to the 2025 ACC championship in his first year with the program, informed Duke Jan. 16 that he planned to enter the NCAA transfer portal. The university countered with the lawsuit and while a judge ruled he could enter the portal, a temporary restraining order was granted that keeps him from enrolling elsewhere, signing a new contract or playing for another school.
Duke requested injunctive relief until the case has been resolved, possibly through arbitration. Duke’s claim is that Mensah’s contract called for the university to retain his name, image and likeness (NIL) rights through December 2026 and the end of the two-year contract.
It is believed that Mensah, who reportedly was paid $4 million by Duke last season, is seeking to transfer to Miami. The former transfer from Tulane was the ACC’s leading passer in his first season with the Blue Devils.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 11:24 AM.
