Denard Robinson, Braylon Edwards are among former Michigan players suing NCAA and Big Ten Network

By Ralph D. Russo, Associated Press

Updated: 4 hours ago Published: 9 hours ago

Former Michigan football stars Denard Robinson and Braylon Edwards are suing the NCAA and Big Ten Network, along with other former Wolverines players, alleging they lost more than $50 million during their college careers due to the association lifting its ban on paying athletes for use of their name, image and likeness.

The federal antitrust class action lawsuit, dated Monday, was filed in the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of all Michigan football players who played before 2016. Former Wolverines players Mike Martin and Shawn Crable are also plaintiffs.

The NCAA and major college conferences are trying to resolve three antitrust lawsuits related to name, image and likeness compensation for athletes. They have reached a settlement that will pay $2.78 billion in damages to hundreds of thousands of college athletes, dating back to 2016.

The NCAA changed its rules in 2021 to allow athletes to profit from their fame through sponsorships and performing arts deals after decades of a ban.

In a hearing last week, the federal judge overseeing the cases declined to grant preliminary approval of the deal and sent the case back to lawyers to address her concerns about certain aspects of the agreement.

Another lawsuit was filed Tuesday against the NCAA over the settlement. The complaint, filed by the South Dakota attorney general on behalf of two Division I universities in his state — South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota — argues that the proposed settlement forces smaller schools like them to shoulder a disproportionate share of the costs.

The Michigan lawsuit seeks to recover what stars like Robinson and Edwards were denied when they played, arguing that players should be paid for highlights and replays of their performances that are still used by television stations.

“These iconic moments have been repeatedly shown and replayed on BTN (Big Ten Network) and affiliated networks, helping to maintain the fascination and passion for the sport. They have contributed significantly to the revenue generated by the NCAA and its partners,” the lawsuit reads.

The NCAA did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.

Robinson was a record-breaking rusher at Michigan from 2009-12, nicknamed Shoelace because he played in untied cleats. He was also featured on the cover of the final EA Sports NCAA video game before the series was put on hiatus for a decade due to the first lawsuit over the NCAA’s ban on NIL compensation. The game returned this year as College Football ’25, with players being paid for the use of their names and likenesses.

“They made hundreds of millions off the Michigan brand. I would argue that the Michigan brand is the most valuable in college sports. They made hundreds of millions of dollars, BTN made millions, and these guys got nothing,” Michigan attorney Jim Acho told the AP. “It’s just wrong, and it’s not just wrong, it’s against the law.”

Robinson most recently worked as a football staffer at the school but was fired in May after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Edwards played from 2001-04 and is considered one of the best wide receivers in school history. He was an All-American who was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns.

Martin played defensive quarterback for the Wolverines from 2008 to 2011. Crable played linebacker from 2003 to 2007.

Acho said it was difficult to say whether the NCAA’s approval of the settlement would impact the new lawsuit.

“It’s too speculative for me to hold off on filing,” he said.