Former Michigan Football stars file $50 million lawsuit against NCAA, Big Ten Network

October 20, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson (16) drops back to pass in the fourth quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 12-10. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
October 20, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson (16) drops back to pass in the fourth quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 12-10. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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Former Michigan Football stars Denard Robinson and Braylon Edwards have filed a $50 million lawsuit against the NCAA and the Big Ten Network, according to a report by On3. The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA and the Big Ten Network used the name, image, and likeness of both athletes without their permission.

Per On3 report:

"Robinson and former Michigan football players are seeking damages for loss of market value for NIL rights, suppressed earnings from endorsements, missed opportunities for media appearances, uncompensated use of likeness in merchandise, revenue from archived footage and highlight reels, lost licensing opportunities, economic loss from NIL suppression, unfair competitive disadvantage, loss of future earning potential, unjust enrichment, retroactive compensation for historical use, group licensing agreements, long-tail endorsements, revenue sharing from media rights and intellectual property claims."

There's no question that guys like Denard Robinson and Braylon Edwards would have had the opportunity to make millions throughout their collegiate careers if they had been able to capitalize off of NIL. Now it seems that plenty of athletes who missed out on those opportunities are making sure that the folks who continue to profit from their work are held responsible.

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Chris Breiler
CHRIS BREILER

Christopher Breiler launched Winged Helmet Media and began covering the Michigan Football program in an unofficial capacity in 2017. He then joined Wolverine Digest as part of the FanNation network in 2021 as a contributing writer, where he served as both a writer and a photographer on game days. In 2024, he took over as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI. His love for Michigan Football brought him into the industry, and his passion for being a content creator has led to some amazing experiences along the way.