Rivalry Turns Legal: Ohio State Coach Faces Lawsuit from Big Ten Contender

Dive into the underbelly of college football with a look at the stadiums that, well, could use some love—just as much as some coaches need a refresher on how to make an exit. Ohio State’s recent national championship triumphs are monumental, yet not all the news around the Buckeyes is trophy-worthy. Now, about those stadiums… some are so dreary, that Oregon’s legal battle over money might actually seem like a preferable alternative to watching a game in them. Here’s your look at the Top 10 Worst College Football Stadiums along with a financial contractual kerfuffle on the side. LEARN MORE

The Ohio State Buckeyes ended the season on top of the college football world after winning the national championship. They were able to win the first-ever 12-team playoff, just as they did for the first-ever four-team playoff one decade ago.

The Buckeyes may be the best team in the sport, but one member of their coaching staff has been sued by another team from the Big Ten.

Oregon is suing current Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn. The school claims that Locklyn owes money after his buyout from the program.

The civil suit alleges that Locklyn breached the contract the two sides agreed to when he left Oregon for Ohio State in April of 2024. Oregon claims that, based on the terms of that contract, Locklyn owes 50% of the remaining salary he was set to be paid.

That amount comes out to $400,000, which Oregon says Locklyn should have paid within 60 days of leaving. When Oregon inquired about the money, the school says Locklyn “took the position that the amount due is $200,000.”

Locklyn also negotiated terms in his Ohio State contract to pay him $200,000 to clear the debt owed to Oregon. Oregon has reiterated that Locklyn’s buyout was $366,667, with the remaining amount prorated to reach a balance of $400,000.

The lawsuit says that Locklyn mailed Oregon a personal check to cover the $200,000 he owed. Oregon returned the check to Locklyn, saying that it “would not accept the payment as full satisfaction of the amount due.”

Oregon says that it plans to pursue the $400,000 it believes it is owed, plus an additional 9% interest in the civil suit. The school notes that, in its estimation, Locklyn “will be unjustly enriched to the University’s detriment” until the money is paid back.

Oregon faced Ohio State twice last season, their first as opponents in the Big Ten. The Ducks won the first meeting in Eugene, but Ohio State was able to exact revenge by defeating Oregon in the Rose Bowl – part of the College Football Playoff.

As the situation between Locklyn and Oregon continues to develop, we’ll see if Ohio State takes action to defend its running backs coach in this legal matter.

Related: Columbus Dispatch Publishes Letter To The Editor Ripping Ohio State Football