Terrelle Pryor sues Ohio State, NCAA and more over name, image and likeness

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A former Buckeyes quarterback has joined a growing list of lawsuits claiming major organizations in college football profited off their name, image and likeness while the players weren’t allowed to do the same.

The lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio targets Ohio State University, the NCAA, the Big 10 Conference and Learfield Communications. Filed on behalf of Terrelle Pryor and “all former student athletes who competed on an Ohio State athletic team” before the changes to NIL rules, it argues that the four defendants violated antitrust laws by preventing the past players from profiting on NIL during their time at OSU.

Pryor’s attorneys — split between two firms — are seeking class action status for the lawsuit as it is intended to encompass cases for multiple former OSU student athletes. The case’s specific allegations include two counts of violating the Sherman Act, and a count of unjust enrichment. The attorneys also argued that the issue of missing compensation is ongoing.

“Although the plaintiff is no longer a student athlete, the defendants in this case
continue to derive revenue from their NIL,” Pryor’s attorneys wrote in their complaint. “For example, NCAA hosts videos on its own website as well as on YouTube that depict the plaintiff and the class, and which can only be viewed after watching a commercial advertisement from which the NCAA profits. The Big Ten Conference, Inc. has a joint venture with Fox Corporation that regularly replays games from the past and which generates substantial advertising revenue.”

Pryor is seeking a “temporary and permanent” injunction that would block all of the defendants from continuing to inappropriately use his, or any other class members’ names, images or likenesses. Additionally, he’s seeking damages shown with “proof at trial,” and attorneys’ fees.

Pryor’s lawsuit joins a growing list of past student athletes who want a slice of the money made during their college careers. In September, former football star Reggie Bush sued the University of Southern California, the NCAA and the Pac-12 on the same grounds of recouping revenue from his name, image and likeness two decades ago. Their filings come as the NCAA mulls over a massive, $2.78 billion settlement agreement for a host of antitrust claims, the very decision creating a potential revenue sharing model for college athletes.

View the complaint filed in Pryor’s lawsuit below:

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