NCAA Wants to Expedite March Madness Case Against DraftKings

The legal battle between the NCAA and DraftKings regarding the use of March Madness branding has moved forward in federal court, with both sides now clashing over how quickly the case should reach trial.

The dispute began on March 20, 2026, when the NCAA filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. 

The organization accused DraftKings of allegedly using protected tournament-related trademarks including March Madness and Final Four on its sports betting platform without having the right authorization to do so. 

The court decided to deny the NCAA’s request for a preliminary injunction, leaving the door open for the governing body to prove its claims at trial.

DraftKings, “Likely to Continue to Exploit That Cycle”

Originally, a pretrial conference was supposed to take place on June 1. However, the NCAA has pushed for a much faster timeline, filing a motion in April requesting that the case be expedited so a full trial could take place by February 2027. 

The organization argues that the timing is critical because the value of its trademarks peaks during the college basketball season.

The NCAA claims that, without an accelerated schedule, DraftKings would continue to benefit from the seasonal attention surrounding its tournaments. 

In court filings, it argued that the betting platform’s conduct is closely tied to the annual surge in fan engagement, making continued use of the terms particularly damaging.

“DraftKings is likely to continue to exploit that cycle,” the NCAA stated, warning that delays could weaken its ability to protect its intellectual property before another tournament season arrives.

Not Enough Time

DraftKings, however, has strongly expressed opposition to the request, describing the proposed timeline as unrealistic. 

The company’s legal team explained that a fast-tracked trial would not do anything to resolve the dispute in an efficient manner and that it could actually extend the legal process, especially if further proceedings are needed.

The company also emphasized the complexity of the discovery, which involves a series of business relationships between the NCAA, member institutions, and partners in sports media and betting fields. 

DraftKings said the proposed deadlines would not allow sufficient time to properly examine those connections.In its latest filing, the NCAA countered that DraftKings is simply trying to delay proceedings and reiterated its push for an earlier court schedule. It has asked the judge to reset the pretrial conference to the earliest possible date.