Victory Vaka will be allowed to play college football in 2026. He recently enrolled at Middle Tennessee State with help from Lil Wayne after being removed from the team at Western Kentucky.
Justice has been served.
In an era of college football where preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders are rampant, Vaka is one of the few players who actually deserves another opportunity for legitimate reasons. His mom passed away in April.
Victory Vaka was kicked off of the college football team at Western Kentucky following the death of his mother.
At 6-foot-3, 335 pounds, Victory Vaka is the definition of a journeyman. The former three-star recruit spent one season at BYU, one season at College of the Canyons, one season at Texas Southern and One year at Northern Arizona.
Because JUCO years no longer count toward the eligibility clock, Vaka transferred to Western Kentucky in January for his fifth and final season of college football. He went through the entirety of winter workouts and the majority of spring practice with the Hilltoppers.
Unfortunately, his mom passed away on April 2. Vaka flew home shortly thereafter. The coaching staff completely understood. The university allowed him to finish the semester remotely.
Head coach Tyson Helton said he would support Vaka if he wanted to transfer and play at another school closer to home but he wanted to play for Western Kentucky. It was the fifth-year senior’s understanding that he was not expected back on campus until June.
And then everything changed at the end of May. The Hilltoppers decided to revoke Vaka’s scholarship and cited the decision as a “failure to report,” which is considered a disciplinary dismissal.
A college football player is allowed to enter the portal under the NCAA’s aid reduction of cancellation exemption if the school significantly reduces or cancels his financial aid. The player is not allowed to enter the portal if his financial aid was reduced or canceled for disciplinary reasons. Vaka was not allowed to transfer after getting cut by Western Kentucky. His career was over.
Vaka later admitted that he could’ve done a better job communicating but he was preoccupied. The two sides never reached a full understanding. The confusion ultimately led to his ouster. It was an unfortunate situation.
Lil Wayne helped him enroll at Middle Tennessee State.
Victory Vaka filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Aug. 5. He wanted the ability to transfer after the Hilltoppers chose not to renew his scholarship.
According to Chris Hummer of CBS Sports, Vaka’s lawyer Darren Heitner almost reached an out-of-court settlement with the NCAA. They decided to sue when the discussions fell apart in recent weeks. A judge granted Vaka with an injunction that will allow him to play college football in 2026. The defensive lineman entered the transfer portal on Aug. 20 signed with Middle Tennessee on Monday.
Vaka is eligible to play for Middle Tennessee immediately with the season-opener against Murray State scheduled for Sept. 5. He got to this point with help from Lil Wayne.
Weezy heard of Vaka’s story and wanted to help. The rapper decided to pay for all of his legal fees!
“Fabian Marasciullo, his manager, reached out to me saying the story touched Wayne and he wanted to help in any way possible,” Vaka’s agent, Jaykwon Jefferson, told CBS Sports.
Lil Wayne also flew Vaka and his brother out to his concert on Aug. 1. And now, 23 days later, the latter is enrolled at MTSU.