The State of Tennessee and Commonwealth of Virginia’s antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA meets a critical moment on Tuesday when a Circuit Court judge will decide on Tennessee and Virginia’s request for a temporary restraining order that would keep the NCAA from enforcing its NIL related rules until a federal judge hears arguments from each side on Feb. 13.
Tennessee and Virginia filed the request for a restraining order shortly after filing their lawsuit against the NCAA. The decision will come a day before National Signing Day.
While Tennessee football isn’t expected to sign any scholarship prep athletes on Wednesday, if the Circuit County judge grants the restraining order it would temporarily deny the NCAA the ability to its enforce its rules that the State of Tennessee and Commonwealth of Virginia are challenging. It would also allow schools in each state to go about their NIL procedures normally ahead of the signing day.
More From RTI: Peyton Manning’s Team Loses In The Pro Bowl
The NCAA’s lawyers made their case against the temporary restraining order on Saturday by saying it would lead to short term chaos and lead to a bidding war for players in college sports.
“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,” NCAA lawyers said in Saturday’s filing according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The State of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti responded on Sunday by further criticizing the NCAA’s NIL related rules and stating that the organization is defending “a world that doesn’t exist.”
The hearing comes just one week after Sports Illustrated reported that the NCAA was once again investigating Tennessee athletics— this time for NIL related violations— and six days after the State of Tennessee and Commonwealth of Virginia filed their antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA.
