Reggie Bush sues NCAA for defamation: ‘No evidence to even support that claim’

Former USC running back Reggie Bush took the podium at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Wednesday morning to announce he was ready to start fighting back against the NCAA, which in 2021 had accused Bush of  “engaging in a pay-for-play arrangement,” which he said was “100% not true.” 

“Not only is it not true, there’s no evidence to even support that claim,” Bush said, reading a prepared statement as he stood alongside attorney Ben Crump.

Bush was one of the greatest running backs in college football history. He racked up 4470 all-purpose yards and 38 touchdowns on his way to winning a Heisman Trophy and Walter Camp award. Bush led the Trojans to back-to-back national championship game appearances before being drafted second overall to the New Orleans Saints in 2006.

After a successful start to his NFL career, reports began to surface claiming Bush’s family had received improper benefits in violation of NCAA policies during his career. In 2010, the NCAA announced major sanctions against USC, including a 2-year bowl ban, 30 forfeited scholarships and four years of probation. The Trojans were also forced to vacate the 2004 National Championship victory and the entire 2005 season. 

For Bush’s part in the violations, the NCAA ordered USC to disassociate from their former star for a 10-year period. In 2010, he voluntarily forfeited his Heisman Trophy and returned it to the Heisman Trophy Trust two years later. 

“It was all torn down so easily, with no factual evidence behind any of these claims,” Bush said of the incident.

Following the advent of new Name, Image and Likeness policies in 2021 that effectively legalized his original infractions, Bush began to advocate for the reinstatement of his records and Heisman Trophy. The NCAA responded by saying it would not entertain restoring Bush’s collegiate records due to the alleged “pay-for- to play arrangement.” This statement, and its subsequent dispersion by over 20 media outlets, forms the basis of the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Marion County, Ind., by Bush’s counsel at McCathern, PLLC and Ben Crump Law against the NCAA.

“How much longer?” Crump asked. “How many more years before the NCAA finally admits we’re on the wrong side of history, the wrong side of fairness and we’re on the wrong side of justice? How long?”

The Heisman Trust has indicated they will gladly return Bush’s trophy as soon as the NCAA reinstates his 2005 season. Public support has been gradually building for the organization to do so, with a number of unaffiliated billboards popping up around L.A. in recent months. Despite the mounting pressure — from the public, a number of court rulings and the running back himself — the NCAA has steadfastly refused to budge.

“I got dreams of coming back in this stadium and running out of that tunnel with the football team,” Bush said, “But I can’t rightfully do that without my Heisman trophy.”