Ex-USC star Reggie Bush sues university, Pac-12, NCAA over name, image

Former USC football player Reggie Bush, with the help from his son, places his returned Heisman Trophy on a pedestal prior a news conference at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Thursday, April, 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

LOS ANGELES – USC’s 2005 Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush Tuesday filed suit against the university, Pac-12 Conference and NCAA seeking compensation for his name, image, and likeness when he played for the Trojans.

Bush attorney Evan Selik said the lawsuit “aims to address and  rectify ongoing injustices stemming from the exploitation of Reggie Bush’s name, image, and likeness during his tenure as a USC football player.”

The complaint contends that USC, Pac-12, and NCAA profited greatly from television contracts, merchandise sales and media rights stemming from Bush’s football career, for which he was not compensated due to NCAA regulations at the time.

“Reggie Bush received all the accolades a college football athlete could receive during his three years playing football at USC,” according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

“And while Bush received the accolades, defendants NCAA, USC, and the Pac-12 Conference received all the money. Millions upon millions of dollars of money, all derived directly from Reggie Bush’s name, image and likeness. To this day, all defendants continue to profit from Reggie Bush’s name, image, and likeness without compensating Bush one penny.”

Bush’s hard work as a college athlete “translated into billion-dollar television deals, multi-million-dollar coaching salaries, extravagant facilities, and lucrative commercial licensing and sponsorship agreements that greatly benefit the NCAA, USC and the Pac 12,” the 14-page suit says.

A statement from USC on Monday indicated that the university had not received a copy of the lawsuit, so was unable to address its allegations.

“Reggie will always be a revered member of the Trojan Family, and we were very pleased to support his successful efforts to recover his Heisman Trophy,” the university said.

A Pac-12 lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and an NCAA representative could not be reached.
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`This case is not just about seeking justice for Reggie Bush,” 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.”

Bush helped lead USC to two national championships when he played for the Trojans from 2003 to 2005.

Bush’s Heisman was stripped from him in 2010 amid an improper benefits scandal — but in April, The Heisman Trust announced it was returning the honor to him. The organization said it was making a formal “reinstatement” of the trophy to Bush in response to what it called “enormous changes in the college football landscape,” specifically rule changes allowing players to land lucrative endorsement deals and payment for the use of their name and image.

Bush is still pursuing a defamation suit against the NCAA, stemming from the organization’s comments that he had been involved in a “pay-for-play” situation. (CNS)