It took a long time, but it's finally here. Reggie Bush will get his 2005 Heisman Trophy back.
The Heisman Trust announced Wednesday that it was officially reinstating Bush. It's been 14 years since the University of Southern California football star forfeited the Heisman Trophy due to massive sanctions imposed on his alma mater.
With the introduction of NIL rights in college sports, the NCAA landscape in 2024 will be significantly different than it was in 2010. With that in mind, Bush will be reinstated as a Heisman.
“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his accomplishments during his college career,” said Heisman Trophy Trust President Michael Comerford. “We decided now was the right time to bring back the Reggie Trophy given the major changes in college athletics over the past few years. We are very excited to have him back. I am very happy.”
The Heisman Trust said Mr. Bush got his original trophy back and a replica was given to USC. Bush will also be invited to all Heisman events starting with the 2024 season.
“Personally, I am excited to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and become a part of the Heisman Trophy's storied legacy, and am honored to return to the Heisman family,” Bush said in a statement. mentioned in. “I also look forward to working with the Heisman Trust to advance the organization’s values and mission.”
welcome home!
We are bringing back the 2005 Heisman Trophy to the University of Southern California. @ReggieBush!
In 2005, Bush gained over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns. He received his 784 first-place votes, which was the fifth-highest number in Heisman Trophy history. pic.twitter.com/34oCD7P8CY
— Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) April 24, 2024
how did we get here?
Bush won the Heisman in 2005 after an NCAA investigation (prompted by extensive investigative reporting by Yahoo Sports) found that Bush received impermissible benefits from a marketing agency while a student-athlete. , whose rights were effectively confiscated in 2010. USC had to vacate all wins Busch competed in while he was ineligible (including the Trojans' 2004 BCS national championship), and his results from that season were voided. These findings also led to an NCAA-mandated rift between Bush and USC, which ended when the university officially reinstated Bush to the team in 2020.
A year later, Bush made his overall intentions clear. He wanted his Heisman Trophy back and wanted the NCAA to reinstate his record. He and his team reached out to the NCAA and Heisman Trust, but received no response.
The Heisman Trust was unmoved by Bush's pleas, refusing to give him back the 2005 trophy until the NCAA reinstated him. And even though the NIL rules have changed, the NCAA said it has no intention of changing the statistics.
Despite being disqualified from the Heisman, Bush was still inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023, but his desire to win back the trophy remained undiminished. In August 2023, Bush announced he would sue the NCAA for defamation in hopes of forcing him to restore his record, which could have led to the return of the trophy.
Now, even if the lawsuit isn't resolved, the Heisman Trust plans to reinstate Bush and return the trophy on Wednesday. It's unclear whether this will affect Bush's position on the NCAA or the lawsuit.
