RaeQuan Battle Files Complaint vs. NCAA on Transfer Waiver

RaeQuan Battle has filed a complaint against the NCAA regarding his transfer eligibility, which has impacted his NIL earnings. This is a separate complaint from the multistate lawsuit against the NCAA, led by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost that was filed on Thursday.

In a 34-page complaint led by James “Rocky” Gianola, it details Battle’s college career at Washington and Montana State. In Count II, the complaint mentions Battle’s name, image and likeness being affected by the NCAA.

78. Plaintiff [RaeQuan Battle] has a contractual relationship with the Country Roads Trust.

79. Plaintiff has a contractual relationship with other third parties for the use of name, image and likeness.

80. As part and parcel of those relationships, Plaintiff is expected to be a prominent athlete in the community and the nation as a whole.

81. The more prominent the plaintiff is as a student-athlete the more valuable those relationships become. 

82. The NCAA knew or should have known about these relationships. 

83. The NCAA has interfered with the relationship between Plaintiff and Country Roads Trust and the expectancies of Plaintiff, Country Roads Trust and the third parties.

Click here to read the full complaint.

This is the third time this week that the NCAA has been sued, the second time regarding Battle. Yost led another suit with the states of Colorado, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia against the NCAA on Thursday, as Battle was mentioned in the complaint with two Southern Illinois student-athletes.

Battle is a multi-time transfer by way of Washington and Montana State. The NCAA has tried to filter through the multi-time transfers so players can’t transfer whenever they want. Battle just has one year of eligibility left but with his waiver appeal being denied, he’s now eligible for the 2024-25 season for now.

WV Sports Now will continue to update on Battle’s eligibility status.