Mensah, Duke settle dispute as QB eyes Canes

Darian Mensah and Duke agreed to a settlement of their dispute that cleared the way for the quarterback to commit to Miami.

Mensah confirmed his commitment to the Hurricanes on social media Tuesday, and he will be joined by wide receiver Cooper Barkate, his top target with the Blue Devils.

Both committed Tuesday night, after the duo dined at a steakhouse in Miami Beach alongside some current and former Miami players.

Duke officials had sued Mensah in Durham County Superior Court on Jan. 20 in an attempt to prevent him from transferring and to try to enforce the multiyear NIL contract he signed with the school.

The Blue Devils entered Mensah's name in the NCAA transfer portal Jan. 21, but he was not permitted to enroll at another school until a North Carolina judge ruled on the school's injunction request. A preliminary injunction hearing had been scheduled for Thursday.

"Through close collaboration and principled negotiation, we have successfully navigated an unprecedented path, one that has now reached a fair and mutually agreeable resolution," Mensah's agency, Young Money APAA Sports, said in a statement.

A source close to the situation told ESPN that Duke's lawsuit was "always about upholding a contract," adding that the school was eager to move forward and not engage in a protracted legal battle with a student-athlete. Duke did not release terms of the settlement but said the agreement suitably addressed the school's primary concerns.

Mensah, the No. 5 overall player in ESPN's transfer rankings, will join the College Football Playoff runner-up Hurricanes after pacing the ACC with 3,973 passing yards and 34 passing touchdowns this season while leading the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC title since 1962.

"We are committed to fulfilling all promises and obligations Duke makes to our student-athletes when we enter into contractual agreements with them, and we expect the same in return," Duke said in a statement Tuesday. "Enforcing those agreements is a necessary element of ensuring predictability and structure for athletic programs. It is nonetheless a difficult choice to pursue legal action against a student and teammate; for this reason we sought to resolve the matter fairly and quickly.

"Duke remains dedicated to the welfare of all student-athletes, and we appreciate them for the talent, dedication, and commitment to excellence they demonstrate both on and off the field. We also remain committed to upholding the integrity of our athletics programs and institutional guidelines. We thank Darian for his contributions to Duke University."

Mensah had previously announced on Dec. 19 that he intended to return to Duke in 2026 after considering entering the NFL draft. Mensah's multiyear NIL deal with Duke, which expires Dec. 31, was believed to be worth up to $4 million for the upcoming year.

On Jan. 16, the final day of the January transfer portal window, Mensah reversed course and informed Duke coach Manny Diaz that he intended to transfer.

Duke's attorneys wrote in their lawsuit that Mensah violated the terms of his NIL agreement by "disclosing its monetary terms, seeking to license his NIL in football and to another collegiate institution, seeking his enrollment at another institution, initiating contact with admissions or athletics staff at another institution, failing to notify Duke University if he is contacted by another institution or its representatives, and/or acting in way that has now harmed his image and the image of Duke University by ignoring the terms and conditions of his contract."

Miami had long been considered the expected destination for Mensah. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound passer began his career at Tulane in 2023 and has two years of eligibility remaining.

Mensah will take over for Carson Beck, who led the Hurricanes to their first national championship game since the 2002 season. Indiana defeated Miami 27-21 in the CFP title game Jan. 19.

Barkate, who is joining his third team in a three-season span, ranked second in the ACC in receiving yards with 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025.

Duke plays at Miami on Nov. 14.

ESPN's David Hale and The Associated Press contributed to this report.