Former Michigan football stars Denard Robinson and Braylon Edwards, along with other ex-Wolverines players, are suing the NCAA and Big Ten Network.
They claim they missed out on over $50 million during their college careers due to the NCAA’s previous ban on athletes receiving compensation for their name, image, and likeness.
The federal class-action lawsuit, filed on Monday in the Eastern District of Michigan, represents all Michigan football players who played before 2016. It also includes former players Mike Martin and Shawn Crable.
The NCAA and major college conferences are currently working to settle three antitrust lawsuits concerning athlete compensation for name, image, and likeness. They have a tentative agreement to pay $2.78 billion in damages to numerous college athletes dating back to 2016.
In 2021, the NCAA updated its rules to allow athletes to earn money through sponsorships and endorsements after a long period of prohibition.
Last week, a federal judge overseeing these cases did not approve the settlement agreement and sent it back to the attorneys for further adjustments.
The Michigan lawsuit seeks to recover the money that stars like Robinson and Edwards were denied during their playing days. It argues that players should be compensated for the highlights and replays of their performances still used by TV networks.
“These iconic moments have been repeatedly shown and replayed on BTN (Big Ten Network) and related networks, helping continue the fascination and passion of the sport. They have significantly contributed to the revenue generated by the NCAA and its partners,” the lawsuit said.
