Former Michigan Football Players File $50 Million Class-Action Lawsuit Against NCAA and Big Ten Network Over NIL Rights

Detroit – Four former Michigan football players, including Denard Robinson and Braylon Edwards, have filed a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA and the Big Ten Network for $50 million. According to a report, the lawsuit claims that these former Wolverines were “unlawfully denied” the chance to earn money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) during their time in college football.

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Jim Acho, who presented a 73-page document on Tuesday morning. The lawsuit seeks to secure a share of revenue generated from the publicity rights of these athletes, who hung up their cleats before June 15, 2016. Acho made it clear that this lawsuit is not aimed at the University of Michigan but is directed at the NCAA for what he describes as a long-standing injustice against college athletes.

“This is not a suit against the University of Michigan,” Acho emphasized. “It is the NCAA that perpetuated this wrong for decades.” With the NCAA finally allowing NIL opportunities for current players in 2021, Acho believes it is time to address past grievances faced by former athletes.

Alongside Robinson and Edwards, the lawsuit also lists other former players like Mike Martin and Shawn Crable. The lawsuit alleges that both the NCAA and Big Ten Network profited off the performances of these athletes by broadcasting games and selling merchandise without providing any financial compensation to the players.

The suit contends that players have been exploited for a long time, claiming that the Big Ten Network has showcased classic Michigan football games for nearly two decades without compensating the athletes involved. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages while aiming to prevent future misuse of players’ images and names.

Robinson, who was featured on the cover of EA Sports’ NCAA Football 14, has not seen any financial benefits from his likeness in the popular video game, which was pulled from the market for nearly a decade due to concerns over player compensation.

The legal action initiated by these former athletes marks what attorney Acho believes could be a wave of similar lawsuits against the NCAA from players across various football programs. He stated, “Numerous former players over the past five decades asked me to file this, and we felt it was absolutely the right thing to do.”

As the landscape of college athletics evolves, this case may set a precedent for how former athletes can seek compensation for their contributions and image rights.