Four former Michigan football players, including Denard Robinson and Braylon Edwards, filed a $50 million class-action lawsuit against the NCAA and Big Ten Network, the Detroit News reports. The suit argues former Wolverines were "unlawfully denied" NIL earnings during their collegiate careers and are entitled to "a present and future share of any revenue generated from the use of their publicity rights."
Attorney Jim Acho filed the 73-page suit Tuesday morning on behalf of Michigan athletes who concluded their playing careers before June 15, 2016. Acho was quick to note that this lawsuit does not target the Michigan football program or the university but aims to "right a wrong perpetuated on college athletes for decades" by the NCAA.
"This not a suit against the University of Michigan," Acho told The Detroit News. "None of the many former players wanted to sue UM and neither did I. It is the NCAA that perpetuated this wrong for decades. They knew it was wrong to prevent players from capitalizing on the most valuable thing they have — their name and image. That has been rectified for current players, but the NCAA needs to correct the wrongs of the past. Today is the day for recompense."
The NCAA first approved interim name, image and likeness policies in 2021.
Former All-Big Ten defenders Mike Martin and Shawn Crable are listed alongside Robinson and Edwards on the lawsuit. Edwards played at Michigan from 2001-04, Crable from 2003-07, Martin from 2008-11 and Robinson from 2009-12.
Acho expects this is the first of many player-led lawsuits to hit the NCAA in the near future.
"Numerous former players over the past five decades asked me to file this, and after a lot of research we felt it was absolutely the right thing to do," Acho said. "I expect former players from other noted football programs will follow our lead and file similar lawsuits."
The suit argues that the NCAA and Big Ten Network have made money off the performances of Robinson, Edwards, Martin, Crable and other Michigan football players by "broadcasting, advertising, and selling merchandise featuring their performances." It mentions how Big Ten Network has aired classic Michigan football games for nearly two decades without players ever receiving compensation.
"This Complaint aims to rectify Defendants' systematic exploitation of Class Members by obtaining compensation for the commercial use of their personal attributes and an injunction to prevent future misappropriation," the suit reads. "The relief sought includes declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, and an award of attorneys' fees and costs."
Robinson appeared on the cover of EA Sports' NCAA Football 14. It was the last issue of the video game before it went on a decade-long hiatus after a federal court found that EA and the NCAA, who weren't paying players for their portrayals in the game, were violating federal antitrust law. Robinson has never received payment for being a cover athlete. EA doled out $600 to every participant in College Football 25, with Texas quarterback Arch Manning earning north of $50,000 to promote the game and star in a commercial.
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