Reggie Bush, a former star football player at the University of Southern California, has filed a lawsuit against his school, the NCAA, and the Pac-12 to reclaim money he believes he should have earned on his name, image, and likeness during his college career. This move is seen as a step towards seeking justice for college athletes who have not been fairly compensated for their contributions. Bush, a Heisman Trophy winner, had to forfeit his award in 2010 due to NCAA sanctions related to his interactions with sports marketers. However, the Heisman Trust recently reinstated his honor, acknowledging changes in college athletics over the years.
Despite a warm relationship with USC this year, Bush is still pursuing a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA. This legal action is part of a larger trend among former college athletes seeking compensation for their past athletic endeavors following the NCAA’s rule change allowing athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. The NCAA and major college conferences are currently working to settle antitrust lawsuits related to compensation for athletes, with a $2.78 billion settlement in place to pay hundreds of thousands of athletes. This marks a significant shift in the NCAA’s stance on athlete compensation as they previously opposed such changes for many years. Bush’s lawsuit, along with those of other former athletes, highlights the ongoing debate over the rights and compensation of college athletes in the modern landscape of collegiate sports.
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