Darian Mensah’s legal battle with Duke regarding the controversial portal entry has not gone as the quarterback would have hoped. The program didn’t take kindly to his move, and then the injunction hearing date further extended his troubles. Now, Mensah has taken another step to force the move.

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Mensah has filed an emergency motion for the court to reconsider the injunction hearing from February to January 23. Mensah, in his affidavit filed on Friday, stated that “deadlines at other collegiate institutions that have indicated to me their interest in my enrollment will expire on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.”

The affidavit states that if Mensah missed the enrollment deadlines at his next stop, he would permanently move on from the opportunity. “Consequently, the TRO Order becomes more than ‘temporary,’ as it could permanently foreclose opportunities for Mensah to enroll at other collegiate institutions,” the motion states.

Duke filed a lawsuit against Mensah on Monday after the quarterback announced his intention to enter the transfer portal, in violation of his NIL deal. The budding junior signed a two-year contract with the Blue Devils in July 2024, paying him $4 million annually. Just one year into the program, Mensah’s transfer intention forced Duke to seek legal aid, preventing him from using the NIL deal and leaving the school.

While the court ruled earlier this week that he could enter the transfer portal, he was not allowed to enroll or play for another program until the judge cleared him of the ongoing injunction request from Duke. While Mensah is projected to land with Miami, his next hearing falls beyond the Hurricanes’ enrollment deadlines.

As Mensah’s attorney requested that it be considered as an emergency motion against the Durham Superior Court, missing out would pile pressure on both Mensah and Miami.

Miami’s interest in Darian Mensah

Mario Cristobal’s Miami is in desperate need of a veteran QB after Carson Beck left for the NFL, exhausting eligibility. Mensah is considered the top candidate to replace Beck, to follow the stellar transfer QBs tradition for Cristobal, following Cam Ward and Carson Beck.

Mensah ticks all the boxes that the Hurricanes wanted. The transfer QB this past season with Duke threw for 3,646 yards for 30 touchdowns, with a 68% completion rate. He was ranked No. 3 in total passing yards, leading the ACC, and was fifth in the FBS in passing touchdowns.  Before his breakout 2025 campaign, he led Tulane to the American Conference title game, throwing for 2,733 yards and 22 touchdowns.

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The Canes are also planning to bring Cooper Barkate with him from the Blue Devils, who was Mensah’s favorite receiver. He led the Blue Devils with 72 catches for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games. Mensah even mentioned him as his “go-to guy.” However, the QB-WR reunion at Miami is only possible if Mensah gets cleared from the injunction as soon as possible, before the Hurricanes’ enrollment deadline ends.