Reggie Bush has filed a lawsuit against USC, the NCAA and the Pac-12 seeking compensation for the use of his name, image and likeness during his college football career at USC nearly two decades ago.
Bush’s attorneys said Monday that the running back should be paid to address and rectify ongoing injustices from exploiting his name, image and likeness.
Driving the news: Bush put together one of the best careers in college football history, winning two national titles and the Heisman Trophy during his time at USC from 2003-2005.
- He forfeited his Heisman in 2010 due to sanctions related to his dealings with sports marketers.
The big picture: The new lawsuit adds to Bush’s existing defamation lawsuit against the NCAA and casts uncertainty on his relationship with USC, which had recently shown a willingness to reconcile with the former player.
- Reggie Bush’s legal action is part of a trend of former athletes seeking compensation for their prior athletic careers under the new rules in college athletics, which now allow athletes to make money through sponsorship and endorsement deals.
- The NCAA and major college conferences are in the process of settling antitrust lawsuits related to NIL compensation for athletes, with a proposed settlement agreement to pay $2.78 billion to hundreds of thousands of college athletes.
What they’re saying: “This case is not just about seeking justice for Reggie Bush,” attorney Evan Selik said in a statement. “It’s about setting a precedent for the fair treatment of all college athletes. Our goal is to rectify this injustice and pave the way for a system where athletes are rightfully recognized, compensated and treated fairly for their contributions.”
