Judge Grants Duke's Bid to Block QB Darian Mensah's Transfer Until Feb. 2 Hearing

A judge has granted Duke's request for a temporary restraining order blocking quarterback Darian Mensah from enrolling to play football at another school until a court hearing set for early February.

The school filed a lawsuit Monday in Durham County Superior Court against Mensah seeking to block his efforts to transfer and reach a contract with another school to play elsewhere next season. The complaint came three days after Mensah reversed his previously announced plan to return to the Blue Devils after leading them to the Atlantic Coast Conference title.

Judge Michael O'Foghludha signed an order Wednesday that prevents Mensah from enrolling elsewhere, signing a licensing deal with another school or taking any other action breaching the two-season contract Mensah signed with Duke running through 2026.

The order, formalizing a verbal ruling from Tuesday's hearing, didn't grant Duke's additional request seeking to block Mensah from entering his name into the transfer portal entirely. But he otherwise can't take additional steps in the process of reaching a deal to play at a new school, with the order designed to "preserve the status quo" until a Feb. 2 hearing.

"Mr. Mensah has an existing contract with Duke which the university intends to honor, and we expect he will do the same," Duke said in a statement Wednesday. "The court-ordered temporary restraining order issued (Tuesday) ensures he does not violate his contract. The university is committed to supporting all our student-athletes, while expecting each of them to abide by their contractual obligations."

The school argued its contract with Mensah — signed in July 2025 — paid him for exclusive rights to market Mensah’s name, image and likeness (NIL) tied to playing