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Former Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush is suing his former school, the University of Southern California, the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA to seek compensation for his name, image and likeness during his Hall of Fame college football career, according to a lawsuit obtained by ESPN on Monday (September 23).
Bush, 39, and his legal team argued that the three defendants earned significant compensation due to his "significant popularity" and "prominence" during his collegiate career through television contracts, merchandise sales and media rights while he was still prohibited from earning compensation as an amateur athlete. Additionally, USC continued to benefit financially from Bush's reputation "without any acknowledgement of his contribution" even after he left the school to play in the NFL, according to the lawsuit.
"This case is not just about seeking justice for Reggie Bush," said Evan Selik, one of the attorneys representing Bush, via ESPN. "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 or their contributions."
Bush was returned the Heisman Trophy and reinstated by the Heisman Trust on April 25 after he was forced to forfeit it in 2010 due to NCAA sanctions levied against USC, which included allegations that the All-American running back received improper benefits during his decorated collegiate career prior to a rule change later allowing players to benefit on name, image and likeness endorsements. Last year, Bush announced that he filed a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA following accusations of accepting impermissible benefits from a "marketing agency" during his collegiate career and sued on the grounds that the NCAA made a statement in 2021 claiming he engaged in a "pay-for-play" arrangement, which could be perceived as USC or a booster paying him under the table to attend the college.
"This is a new accusation as far as I’m concerned," Bush said during a news conference in which he called the statement completely false while appearing at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in August 2023.
Bush was selected No. 2 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 NFL Draft and had a 11-year NFL career with four teams, which included winning Super Bowl XLIV as a member of the Saints and being elected to the Saints Hall of Fame.