Ole Miss could be headed for a landmark legal battle in the new era of college athletics.
Athletic director Keith Carter
Athletic director Keith Carter confirmed that the Rebels are considering legal action against former players Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper after the pair transferred to LSU earlier this year without their reported revenue-sharing buyouts being paid. Carter said taking the matter to court remains one of the options Ole Miss is evaluating as it seeks to enforce the contracts. Â
Both Umanmielen and Harper signed revenue-sharing agreements with Ole Miss before later entering the transfer portal and following former Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU. Those contracts reportedly included buyout provisions, and multiple reports have estimated the combined amount owed is just under $1 million, although Ole Miss has not publicly confirmed the exact figure.
According to Carter, schools have generally been hesitant to pursue legal action over player buyouts, but Ole Miss believes these cases are different because the agreements were signed only shortly before the players chose to leave. He added that LSU could choose to satisfy the buyouts on the players’ behalf, and Ole Miss is exploring every available option to collect the money.
If Ole Miss ultimately files suit, the case could become one of the first major legal tests of revenue-sharing buyout clauses in college football, potentially setting an important precedent for future player contracts across the country.
