Dakoda Fields, former Oregon Ducks DB, being sued by university for breach of contract

Oregon is suing former defensive back Dakoda Fields for what the university says is a breach of contract, according to court documents obtained by The Daily Emerald, Oregon’s student newspaper.

According to the complaint, Fields and the school agreed in February that Fields, who transferred to Oklahoma in January, would pay Oregon $39,882 and be released from his contract with the Ducks. The two parties later agreed that $10,000 from that bill would be waived if Fields made a payment of $29,882 by April 20.

In the complaint, which was filed on Friday, May 15 in Lane County (Oregon) Circuit Court, Oregon alleges that Fields did not make that payment by that date, leaving him with an outstanding balance of $10,000.

Along with the unpaid $10,000, the university is seeking reimbursement for attorney fees and costs, as well as statutory interest of 9% since April 21.

A four-star recruit coming out of Junipero Serra High School in California in 2024, Fields redshirted as a freshman in 2024 before playing in the Ducks’ first three games of the 2025 season. In November, it was reported that he intended to enter the transfer portal, with Oregon coach Dan Lanning telling reporters at a Nov. 5 news conference that Fields "didn't come to work today.”

“We haven't talked to Dakoda, so I guess that's the way it goes nowadays,” Lanning said.

Fields becomes the latest data point in a growing trend of colleges suing athletes who they believe have violated name, image and likeness deals with the school. 

Cincinnati sued star quarterback Brendan Sorsby in February after he transferred to Texas Tech. In a case that was eventually settled, Duke sued former quarterback Darian Mensah after he transferred to Miami. Washington had threatened to sue quarterback Demond Williams when he intended to enter the transfer portal, but Williams later opted to return to the Huskies.