In Tennessee vs. NCAA lawsuit, here's what's coming next and what to expect
Round 1 went to the NCAA.
A more important Round 2 is set to be decided next week.
Tennessee's legal clash with the NCAA is continuing to play out in the courtroom, and the state's attorney general doesn't seem too demoralized that a judge did not grant a temporary restraining order this week that would have halted the NCAA's NIL guidelines.
That's because a bigger, longer-lasting ruling awaits next week.
On this edition of "The Volunteer State," Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and Knox News' Adam Sparks and John Adams offer an update on the latest on the case.
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The background: The NCAA is investigating the Vols for possible NIL violations. UT is fighting back, and the attorneys general from Tennessee and Virginia are suing the NCAA in an antitrust case.
Here's what else you need to know:
1. A judge denied Tennessee’s request for a temporary restraining order. Score one for the NCAA.
2. A decision on the more important injunction awaits next week. The injunction hearing is Tuesday in Greeneville, Tennessee.
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3. Tennessee remains upbeat about its chances. The NCAA fended off the first salvo, so its NIL guidelines remain in place. But, if Tennessee wins the injunction, the NCAA’s NIL rules are voided until an ultimate ruling in the lawsuit is reached. That injunction could last for several months or more. Although Judge Clifton Corker denied the temporary restraining order, he may have tipped his hand that his injunction decision could reverse course and favor Tennessee. “Considering the evidence currently before the court, plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim under the Sherman Act,” Corker wrote.
4. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti told Knox News he believes the NCAA unfairly targeted UT in its latest investigation. This investigation into whether UT committed NIL recruiting inducements comes on the heels of the NCAA finding that Tennessee football committed 18 Level I violations while Jeremy Pruitt was coach. The NCAA hammered Pruitt with sanctions, but UT avoided a postseason ban. When this latest investigation arose, Skrmetti said he was fully prepared to sue the NCAA. “Anything that UT does appears to come under significant scrutiny,” Skrmetti told Knox News, “because the school tried to defend the rights of its athletes when it was scrutinized before (in the Pruitt case).”
5. A court decision in favor of Tennessee next week wouldn’t necessarily put a total halt to the NCAA’s investigation. However, by freezing the NCAA’s already meager NIL rules, an injunction could leave the NCAA without much leg to stand on if it continued with an investigation. Further, continuing the investigation after an injunction would be more bad optics for the already embattled NCAA.
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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's SEC Columnist and a published author. John Adams is the News Sentinel's senior columnist and a two-time published author. Adam Sparks covers the Vols with award-winning coverage for the News Sentinel. You can subscribe to read all their coverage, or check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. They also host the acclaimed "SEC Football Unfiltered" podcast.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: In Tennessee vs. NCAA lawsuit, what's coming next and what to expect?
