Twins suing NCAA over eligibility dispute involving NIL compensation

CHICAGO — Twin brothers have sued the NCAA in federal court, alleging they were ruled ineligible because of compensation they received for use of their name, image and likeness while they were playing at an Atlanta prep sports academy.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Matthew Bewley and Ryan Bewley, 19-year-old twins from Florida, in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Wednesday. The Bewleys spent two seasons at Overtime Elite Academy before accepting scholarships from Chicago State University in June.

The brothers are seeking damages and an injunction that would clear them to play for the Cougars, who visit Bowling Green on Monday night for their season opener. U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman scheduled a hearing for Tuesday in the case.

Daniel McGrath, one of the lawyers representing the Bewleys, declined comment when asked if he had anything to add beyond the lawsuit. An NCAA spokeswoman also declined comment on Friday.

Gabe Feldman, the director of the Tulane sports law program and Tulane University’s associate provost for NCAA compliance, compared the case to a previously filed antitrust lawsuit that seeks to prevent the NCAA from limiting the amount of money athletes can make off their names, images and likenesses.

“The House case ... is the broad ongoing challenge to a host of restrictions on college athlete compensation,” he said. “This is one step away from that because it is a lawsuit brought based on restrictions that are in place before athletes enroll in college.”