Earlier this month, Texas Tech found itself back in the middle of a college football fight after the NCAA suspended quarterback Brendan Sorsby over gambling violations. That ruling drew public comments from UCF athletic director Terry Mohajir, whose “integrity” comments and line that “no one is above the law” quickly added heat to the issue. Then Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell stepped in, and the conversation shifted from one suspension to a broader feud.

The whole thing started when a defensive end named Dean Miller, who wanted to transfer to UCF from Kansas, found out the NCAA was blocking his extra year of eligibility. Miller filed an emergency lawsuit in an Orange County, Florida, court to bypass the NCAA. His lawsuit revealed he has a massive $300k NIL deal waiting for him that vanishes if he can’t suit up for UCF.

UCF has faced NCAA fights before, from a past postseason ban appeal to the current eligibility battle, so this lawsuit fits a program that has already lived through NCAA courtroom pressure rather than a one-off flare-up. Cody Campbell seized the moment, hopping on social media to play the ultimate “Uno reverse” card against Mohajir’s high-and-mighty quote right next to the news of UCF’s incoming player suing the NCAA:

“Institutions cannot control court rulings, legal strategies, or judicial outcomes,” Mohajir continued. “What we can control is playing time and the standards we set for participation in our programs.” Campbell reposted Mohajir’s quote on X alongside Miller’s lawsuit, highlighting the hypocrisy.

The two cases have diverged sharply. Texas Tech’s quarterback dropped his lawsuit. Sorsby decided it was time to move on and officially declared himself ineligible for college football. Sorsby is now focused on getting picked up in the upcoming NFL Supplemental Draft this July. While UCF’s defensive end remains in limbo.

What’s going on with Miller’s case

Miller spent one season at a junior college in 2021 and then played three years at Kansas. After a strong season with the Jayhawks, where he recorded 13.5 tackles for loss, the former JUCO standout planned to transfer to UCF for what could be his final year of college football.

However, the NCAA blocked the move and said he’s eligible because he already has 4 years of college ball. UCF desperately appealed the ruling but was completely rejected by the NCAA on May 28. Caught in a corner, Miller’s camp retained Heitner Legal and did the exact same thing Sorsby did: they filed an emergency lawsuit against the NCAA in local court.

Miller’s legal team is using the same argument that helped Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia win his case last year. They argue that the NCAA should not count old junior college seasons for a player’s eligibility.

According to the lawsuit, doing so unfairly limits an athlete’s ability to earn money in today’s college sports world. Miller’s lawyers are asking a Florida judge for a temporary restraining order (TRO), which would allow him to enroll at UCF, join the team, and begin practicing while the case moves forward.

That is why these eligibility fights keep landing in court now: NIL money, the transfer portal, and new compliance rules have made a player’s final season feel like a financial deadline, not just a roster decision. For now, though, Miller is still not enrolled at UCF and is waiting for the court’s decision.