Feb. 13 has been set as the date a judge will hear a request by the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia for a preliminary injunction that would put on hold NCAA rules banning recruiting inducements and pay-for-play deals, the court posted Friday.
The lawsuit challenging NCAA recruiting rules was filed earlier this week in the Eastern District of Tennessee, a day after it was revealed the college sports governing body was investigating the University of Tennessee for potential violations related to name, image and likeness compensation being used to recruit athletes.
The attorneys general quickly followed up the lawsuit with the request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. The plaintiffs asked for a judge to rule on the temporary restraining order by Feb. 6. If granted, it would also force the NCAA to stop enforcing those rules immediately.
The court said the NCAA had until 6 p.m. Saturday to respond to the temporary restraining order request and the plaintiffs until 6 p.m. Sunday to file a reply.
The attorneys general who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA regarding transfer rules in December used a similar strategy. After a temporary restraining order was granted, the NCAA quickly decided to join the plaintiffs in asking the court to keep it in place through the end of the spring semester to provide clarity to schools and athletes immediately impacted. A judge granted the request.