The college football transfer portal is filled with uncertainty, but no case is more complex than Cortez Braham Jr.’s. A lawsuit worth $500,000 is now at the center of his future, as the Nevada wide receiver fights for a seventh year of eligibility.
If he wins, it could send shockwaves through the portal, changing how JUCO transfers navigate their careers while giving a contender an elite veteran weapon. But with the NCAA pushing back, Braham’s path to returning to the field is far from simple.
How Cortez Braham Jr’s Lawsuit Might Send a Veteran WR to a Top Contender
Braham has been making headlines since the day he filed a lawsuit against the NCAA. Although some people and analysts in the community made fun of his decision to stay in college one more year after already playing six seasons, he hasn’t changed his mind.
The Nevada wide receiver has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against the organization, claiming they wrongfully denied him a seventh year of eligibility, even though he followed a common path through junior college.
It’s been months since the NCAA issued a blanket waiver after the Diego Pavia ruling. Yet several notable transfers, from Rahsul Faison to Cortez Braham, remain in limbo.
On the waiver landscape & key court challenges.
“It’s a lot of luck of the draw.”https://t.co/xeLNo0xIxz pic.twitter.com/Yu1CthS0hs
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) June 2, 2025
Braham’s case stems from the Diego Pavia rule, which previously granted JUCO players an extra year of eligibility. However, the NCAA has denied Braham’s request, leaving him unable to play this fall.
The wide receiver, who recorded 56 receptions, 724 receiving yards, and four touchdowns last season for Nevada, claims that the NCAA’s decision has cost him significant NIL earnings.
Big schools like Kentucky (SEC) and Memphis (AAC) heavily approached Braham during the open transfer window. But because the NCAA wouldn’t let him play for a seventh season, those possible changes never happened.
In his case, he says that the NCAA’s five-year eligibility clock unfairly limits JUCO graduates, making it impossible for them to make the most of their college jobs and NIL chances.
The Baltimore native ranked fifth in program history with 1,387 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns at Hutchinson Community College. He redshirted there before moving on, but it was at Nevada where he truly hit his stride.
Last season, Braham started all 13 games, earned All-Mountain West Honorable Mention, and recorded three games with over 100 receiving yards.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
However, his record isn’t the main focus right now, nor is how good he is on the field. It’s all about the $500,000 lawsuit, which could change the entire NIL landscape if Braham wins.
More than that, it could bring a veteran wide receiver to a top team. Scouts and coaches are watching the lawsuit closely. Let’s see when this high-tension moment comes to an end.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
