Ole Miss sues LSU's Umanmielen, Harper for breach of contract

The University of Mississippi is taking legal action against two former football players, Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper, for breach of contract. The university is seeking a total of $950,000 in damages following the players' departure for Louisiana State University.

Both players previously signed revenue-sharing agreements to remain at Ole Miss for the current season. These contracts included specific penalty clauses for players who left the program before fulfilling their committed term. According to court filings, Umanmielen and Harper both signed their respective agreements in early January, only to enter the transfer portal and commit to LSU shortly thereafter.

Ole Miss claims the players violated the 90-day window stipulated in their contracts. The university attempted to resolve the dispute amicably before filing the lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Lafayette County, but those efforts proved unsuccessful. When the school requested payment, both athletes failed to meet the 30-day deadline.

LSU officials have declined to cover the costs on behalf of the players, stating the school is not a party to the individual contracts. This development highlights the growing legal complexities surrounding player retention and revenue-sharing agreements in college sports. Ole Miss maintains that it is necessary to enforce these contractual terms to ensure all parties honor their signed commitments.