Four well-known ex-Michigan football players have initiated a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA and the Big Ten Network, claiming $50 million in damages for the unauthorized use of their names, images, and likenesses on television.

The plaintiffs—Braylon Edwards, Denard Robinson, Michael Martin, and Shawn Crable—are represented by Jim Acho from the Livonia-based law firm Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, PLC.

The 73-page legal complaint was submitted on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The lawsuit asserts that both the NCAA and Big Ten Network profited from the efforts of these four former Wolverines and other Michigan football players by “broadcasting, advertising, and selling merchandise based on their performances” without obtaining their consent or offering any compensation.

“Currently, it’s widely recognized that college football players can receive monetary compensation for the use of their name, image, and likeness (often referred to as ‘NIL’), but for many years, these players were unfairly prevented from doing so,” the suit claims. “The NCAA was aware of the injustice yet continued to profit.”

Since July 2021, student athletes have been allowed to earn money from their name, image, and likeness.

Robinson, notable for being the first player in NCAA history to pass and rush for 1,500 yards in a single season, earned the title of Big Ten offensive player of the year in 2010 and appeared on the cover of the NCAA college football video game released in 2014 before a lengthy hiatus.

Edwards, a former NFL first-round draft pick and the recipient of the Biletnikoff Award as the top college receiver in 2004, claimed he missed out on “several million dollars,” while Crable (2003-07) and Mike Martin (2008-11) also excelled as defensive leaders during their playing times.

“Even after these athletes have completed their college careers, the NCAA, BTN, and their affiliates continue to misuse their names, images, and likenesses,” the lawsuit states. “This ongoing exploitation involves replays of past highlights, promotional materials, and merchandise sales that bring in substantial revenue for the NCAA and its partners, while the athletes receive nothing.”

This lawsuit isn’t the first against NCAA policies.

Earlier this year, the NCAA settled the House vs. NCAA case, agreeing to pay out over $2.9 billion to former student-athletes from as far back as 2016.

The aim of this current case is to not only extend the timeframe for compensation but also to “protect future generations of student-athletes from similar exploitation.”

The Free Press has reached out to both the NCAA and the Big Ten Network but has yet to receive a response.