The NCAA is asking a federal judge in Indiana to speed up its trademark fight with DraftKings, saying the normal court calendar could let the sportsbook ride another March Madness wave before the dispute is decided.
In a filing reviewed by ReadWrite and dated Wednesday (April 15) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, the association asked to move an initial pretrial conference forward and set a compressed schedule that could send the case to trial in February 2027.
The group says timing matters because the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments create a short, valuable burst of attention every spring. In its motion, the NCAA said, “DraftKings’s challenged conduct is closely tied to the annual rhythm of the marquee collegiate sporting events, during which consumer engagement is at its peak and the value of the NCAA Basketball Marks is at its highest.”
It then warned the court that “Absent an accelerated timeline, DraftKings is likely to continue to exploit that cycle, causing ongoing harm to the NCAA.”
NCAA March Madness court fight against DraftKings shifts after emergency ruling
The NCAA first sued DraftKings on March 20, accusing the company of trademark infringement, false association, unfair competition and dilution by tarnishment. It also sought a temporary restraining order aimed at halting what it described as unauthorized use of college basketball branding tied to March Madness betting promotions.
The emergency request did not produce the immediate shutdown the NCAA wanted. A judge denied the bid to block DraftKings at that early stage, but the court’s order also found the association had made substantial arguments that could succeed later in the case.
The latest filing leans hard on that March 26 ruling. The NCAA says the judge already determined it had shown a likelihood of success on key trademark claims. The motion quotes the court as finding that “the seven factors clearly favor the NCAA and indicate a likelihood of confusion,” and also cites the statement that “the NCAA is likely to succeed on all three elements” of its dilution claim.
The association argues those conclusions show the case is ready to move quickly toward a final decision instead of spending months on interim motions.
The filing also says practical problems are approaching fast. By early 2027, it argues, sportsbook advertising campaigns, app designs and tournament promotions may already be locked in. If liability is still unresolved then, DraftKings could continue building business plans around the disputed branding, making later changes more difficult.
The NCAA separately has been active in protecting March Madness marks in other settings, including concerns tied to event-contract markets such as Kalshi.
The association also says delay risks more confusion among fans, customers and business partners who could assume DraftKings is officially connected to or endorsed by the NCAA.
Before filing, the NCAA told the court it twice tried to discuss a faster schedule with DraftKings lawyers and sent a proposed plan, but “did not receive a substantive response.”
Featured image: DraftKings / NCAA
