USC Football

Reggie Bush isn't giving up on his quest to regain his 2005 Heisman Trophy just yet.

Speaking with Steve Serby of the New York Post this week, the former USC standout made clear he's not done attempting to have his college records reinstated and the trophy returned. The NCAA vacated his records in 2010 following an investigation into impermissible benefits he and his family received while he was in college. Bush forfeited the Heisman title shortly thereafter.

"The story continues," Bush said. "It’s not done yet. Stay tuned for much more. Without a doubt [I think I'll get it back]. Without a doubt."

Bush's last attempt to regain the trophy was shot down.

Following the NCAA's implementation of name, image and likeness policies, Bush lobbied both the organization and the Heisman Trust to reinstate his epic 2005 season and Heisman title. The trust said it could not do so because the NCAA still considers his season vacated.

Per the trust:

The Heisman Trophy ballot used by voters has a rule governing eligibility for the award, which was in effect in 2005, which states:

'In order that there will be no misunderstanding regarding the eligibility of a candidate, the recipient of the award must be a bona fide student of an accredited college or university including the United States Academies. The recipient must be in compliance with the bylaws defining an NCAA student athlete.'

Bush's 2005 season records remain vacated by the NCAA and, as a result, under the rule set forth by the Heisman Trust and stated on the Heisman Ballot, he is not eligible to be awarded the 2005 Heisman Memorial Trophy. Should the NCAA reinstate Bush's 2005 status, the Heisman Trust looks forward to welcoming him back to the Heisman family.

Bush rushed for 1,740 yards on 200 carries with 16 touchdowns. He added another 478 receiving yards on 37 catches with two more touchdowns and returned a punt for a touchdown over the course of his 2005 season. He needed just 13 games to do so.

Regardless, he ended up relinquishing the trophy after he earned 748 first-place votes—a complete runaway victory over quarterbacks Vince Young, Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn.

As the NIL era of college athletics continues to see top-tier athletes bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time, Bush's case for reinstatement only grows stronger.

Perhaps that's why he's convinced he'll get his trophy back at some point. Either way, more than a decade after he gave up the award, he's not done fighting on.

USC Trojans wide receiver Bru McCoy won't be charged after being arrested on suspicion of intimate partner violence in July, according to Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times. 

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office cited "insufficient evidence" as the reason it did not proceed with charges.

“We appreciate the careful consideration by both the District Attorney's Office and LAPD," McCoy's attorney, Michael Goldstein, told Kartje. "We always trusted the process and the right decision was made."

McCoy, 21, was arrested on July 24 and released on a $50,000 bond, per ESPN's Kyle Bonagura. He was promptly suspended from team activities by USC. 

"USC does not condone violence of any kind. We are aware of the situation, and USC's Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX is reviewing it," the school said in a statement at the time. "Because of federal student privacy laws, we are unable to share additional information at this time. The student-athlete has been temporarily removed from team activities."

It is unclear if Wednesday's news that McCoy won't face charges will change his suspension from the football program, given the school's separate investigation into the matter.

As Kartje noted, "When the redshirt sophomore receiver was first removed from team activities, USC coach Clay Helton and a university spokesperson declined to comment on whether McCoy had been barred from campus."

McCoy sat out his freshman season with an illness before catching 21 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns last season as a redshirt freshman. The expectation coming into the 2021 campaign was that he would play a major role in the Trojans' offense. 

The LSU and USC football teams will open the 2024 season with a Labor Day weekend matchup at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Raiders.

Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated reported the news on the Trojans and Tigers, noting that this will mark the first time ever that LSU plays a game in Nevada.

LSU has a bunch of Power Five opponents lined up for early-season games, so this announcement follows that trend.

Of note, the Tigers will open against another Pac-12 team, UCLA, this season at the Rose Bowl.

A pair of Florida State games in 2022 and 2023 will follow, and the Tigers will also face Clemson (2025, 2026), Oklahoma (2027, 2028) and Arizona State (2029, 2030) to round out the next 10 years.

As for what this means for USC, Michael Castillo of FanSided provided some context:

Of course this drops after we've finished recording a podcast.

But this is a dream matchup for USC. They get a big money one-off game close to home, against a big-time SEC opponent.

That's how you make money and put butts in seats. Las Vegas as a hub for CFB rules. https://t.co/qAdqKl82aP

— Michael Castillo (@MichaelCastFS) August 25, 2021

The Tigers, who won the 2019 national championship, are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 5-5 season. Preseason expectations predict that they'll do just that, with the Tigers landing No. 15 in the first Associated Press poll.

The Trojans, who won all five of their 2020 regular-season games before losing to Oregon in the Pac-12 title matchup, is predicted to win the South Division once again per a media poll of 40 members who cover the conference. They are 16th in the AP poll and set to open the 2021 campaign versus San Jose State.

USC has suspended wide receiver Bru McCoy, according to Keely Eure of USCFootball.com.

The decision came after McCoy was arrested and charged with intimate partner violence with injury in July, according to an L.A. Police Department spokesperson.

"USC does not condone violence of any kind," the school said in a statement. "We are aware of the situation, and USC’s Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX is reviewing it. Because of federal student privacy laws, we are unable to share additional information at this time.

"The student-athlete has been temporarily removed from team activities."

A redshirt sophomore, McCoy caught 21 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns in 2020, his first year on the field.

The Santa Ana, California, native originally committed to USC in January 2019. Shortly after enrolling, though, he entered the transfer portal and eventually landed at Texas. In May 2019, he left the Longhorns and transferred to USC.

Between an undisclosed illness and a lack of clarity about his eligibility, Trojans head coach Clay Helton confirmed in October 2019 the 6'3" pass-catcher would sit out the entire season.

With regard to his arrest, McCoy was released on bond on July 24 and is due back in court on Nov. 24.

Eure spoke to a source who said his suspension could continue through a portion of the 2021 season "due to the serious nature of the allegations." The Trojans open play Sept. 4 at home against San Jose State.

Despite a recent change to the name, image and likeness rules in the NCAA, Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy won't be returned. 

An NCAA spokesperson told ESPN's Kyle Bonagura that Bush's violation doesn't fall under the NIL rule:

Although college athletes can now receive benefits from their names, images and likenesses through activities like endorsements and appearances, NCAA rules still do not permit pay-for-play type arrangements. The NCAA infractions process exists to promote fairness in college sports. The rules that govern fair play are voted on, agreed to and expected to be upheld by all NCAA member schools.

Bush, who won the Heisman Trophy at USC in 2005, announced in Sept. 2010 that he was vacating the award amid speculation that the Heisman Trust was going to strip him of the honor. 

USC received a significant punishment from the NCAA, including a two-year postseason ban, loss of 10 scholarships from 2010-12 and 14 vacated wins from 2004-05 because of illegal benefits Bush received during his college career. 

The NIL policy took effect on July 1, which allowed college players to earn money through endorsement deals. 

Bush said in a statement that same day that his records should be reinstated and his Heisman returned due to his "strong belief that I won the Heisman Trophy 'solely' due to my hard work and dedication on the football field."

In a statement released on July 2, the Heisman Trust said it would return Bush's award if the NCAA reinstated his stats from the 2005 season. 

Even though his stats are no longer official, Bush had a fantastic junior year with USC. He had 1,740 rushing yards, 478 receiving yards, 493 kickoff-return yards, 179 punt-return yards and scored 19 touchdowns. 

Bush finished first in Heisman voting, ahead of Texas quarterback Vince Young and USC quarterback Matt Leinart.     

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running backs coach Todd McNair settled a defamation lawsuit he filed against the NCAA more than a decade ago regarding allegations college sports' governing body made against him in its investigation into Reggie Bush receiving improper benefits at USC.

Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura of ESPN reported the settlement was reached through mediation.

"After ten years of litigation, both sides have come together to resolve this matter to the mutual satisfaction of all parties involved," attorneys for McNair and the NCAA said in a joint statement.

No financial terms were disclosed.

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This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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USC wide receiver Drake London is looking to play his way up NFL draft boards and help lead the Trojans to a Pac-12 title in 2021 after finishing the 2020 season with 33 catches for 502 yards and three touchdowns in six games.

He joined Bleacher Report for an AMA on Friday to discuss a number of topics, including his favorite NFL quarterbacks, studying Mike Evans and more.

The following is the full transcript from the AMA session.

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@TwoWayWigs Why did you choose USC?

First off the academics are beyond any school I can imagine. They have good sports, I came as a dual-sport athlete. It’s close to home and I’m a big family guy. I wanted my family to see all my games.

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@TheSpidaMan Which WRs have you looked up to and tried to mirror their skills as you’ve grown your game?

I grew up a Lions fan because my dad loves Barry Sanders. Megatron was the first WR I started watching. As I started growing into a WR myself. I started watching Mike Evans and Michael Thomas.

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@brando897 Is there a specific WR you like to compare your game to?

Mike Evans. The body type is similar. The way he moves I can emulate. I love breaking down his film and practicing in games.

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@CLECLU1133 Any regrets on walking away from college basketball?

A part of me says yes and a part of me says no. I think I made the right choice going head on with football in general.

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@cadewwh Your favorite part of attending USC?

I think it’s the family atmosphere that it has and the connections you make with people. The networking is really big. It’s been my dream school since I was young and I love it.

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@TeachSamAChange Do you have a personal goal on the field this year? (100 catches, 5 stiff arms etc.)

Not really, just trying to win games and win a championship. We take it 1-0 each week.

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@jgarrett_ii Do you think the NIL will have a positive impact on USC with all of the potential opportunities in a city like LA?

Oh definitely. This is the media central in the whole country. I think it’s going to have a big impact on us. Excited to see what my teammates and what others do with it.

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@SportsMega18 If you could choose one NFL QB to catch passes from who are you going with?

Oohhh that’s a good one. It would probably be either Aaron Rodgers or Cam Newton just because of his swag.

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@rileyrodrigo Which NFL team would you like to play for?

That’s a hard one. Anything on the West Coast.

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@Ice_Trae Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself hopefully providing for my family, being in the league and just hopefully living life and just having fun.

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Rapid Fire

@MrBoban__ Favorite athlete from another sport? 

Kobe Bryant

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@abdulrahim1 WWE or UFC?

UFC

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@yifi11 The team you enjoy using most in Madden is __

Titans

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@nvpshow Best dancer on the team?

Olaijah Griffin left so I can’t say him….I’d say right now...that’s a tough one...probably K.D. Nixon

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@Steve_Perrault Favorite Drake Song?

Sneakin’ featuring 21 Savage

USC quarterback Kedon Slovis reached an agreement with Klutch Sports as he seeks to maximize his earning potential through the NCAA's name, image and likeness policy, according to Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times.

The agency that represents LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Trae Young now has its first college football player on its roster. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young signed with CAA in recent weeks as well. 

While representation is now allowed under NCAA rules, Klutch is still not guaranteed to continue with Slovis if and when he decides to turn pro. 

The Arizona native passed for 1,921 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions over six games last season. A year earlier he passed for 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns with nine picks.

Slovis enters the 2021 campaign with the eighth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, per DraftKings Sportsbook, which lists him at +2800 (bet $100 to win $2,800). Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler remains the favorite there at +650. 

As much interest as there is in Trojan football in Southern California, there may be even more across the country as USC attempts to reestablish itself on the national stage. The Trojans haven't won more than eight games in a season since 2017 (11-3), but that campaign ended in a Cotton Bowl loss to Ohio State. 

Per Kartje:

The selection of companies allowed to use [Slovis'] name, image and likeness is largely up to Slovis. USC’s interim NIL policy, which was put into place to fill the void before the state’s law goes into effect in 2023, only "strongly discourages" athletes from signing deals related to “illegal substances, illegal conduct, or anything else, including but not limited to sports wagering and supplements, that might impact their NCAA eligibility or long-term best interests.”

Slovis has yet to announced endorsement deals since NIL was enacted. The agency will have to disclose any contracts or sponsorships the quarterback signs.

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Former NFL running back Reggie Bush will be the focus of an upcoming documentary that details his storied college career at USC.

"After all these years I’m finally ready to tell my story, I hope this can help drive change with the next generation of student-athletes," Bush said of the project to Variety's Brent Lang. "We’re making some progress, but there’s still a long way to go."

Bush was the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner and helped the Trojans claim a national championship in 2004. However, his and the school's achievements during that time were wiped from the record books amid allegations of major infractions across multiple programs.

Regarding Bush, the NCAA determined he had received improper benefits, which led him to forfeit his Heisman.

The sweeping changes—both in perception and practice by the NCAA—regarding name, image and likeness have led to scandals such as those involving Bush to be looked upon in a different light.

The 36-year-old issued a statement asking for his Heisman win and college records to be restored:

My statement… pic.twitter.com/kbyqXgHncf

— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) July 1, 2021

The Heisman Trust responded to say it can't reverse course until the NCAA formally reinstates him.

Even though it will be covering a period that's 16-plus years ago, a documentary about Bush's USC run remains as compelling as ever.

On the day that the NCAA's name, image and likeness rules took effect across the country, Reggie Bush is speaking out about the scandal that cost him his Heisman Trophy win in 2005 and saw his records vacated. 

The former USC superstar tweeted Thursday that he "never cheated this game" in reference to the NCAA's previous policy that resulted in penalties and sanctions against the Trojans and himself for receiving improper benefits. 

I never cheated this game. That was what they wanted you to believe about me.

— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) July 1, 2021

The NCAA announced Wednesday that the board of directors adopted a temporary policy on name, image and likeness rights that will stay in effect "until federal legislation or new NCAA rules are adopted."

Under the policy, student-athletes will be able to sign marketing deals and use their social media pages to promote those brands, receive compensation for personal appearances and autograph signings, and receive payment for their likeness on merchandise. 

Bush spent three seasons at USC from 2003-05. He was named an All-American in each of his final two seasons with the Trojans and won the 2005 Heisman Trophy award. 

One year after Bush left USC for the NFL, the NCAA opened an investigation into allegations that he and his family received gifts and financial payouts during his college career. 

The NCAA announced in 2010 that USC received a two-year bowl ban, four years of probation and forced to vacate 14 wins across two seasons, including the 2004 BCS championship victory over Oklahoma. 

The NCAA said Bush "received lavish gifts from two fledgling sports marketers hoping to sign him." The gifts ranged from "hotel stays and a rent-free home where Bush's family apparently lived to a limousine and a new suit when he accepted his Heisman in New York in December 2005."

Bush issued a statement in Sept. 2010 that he was vacating his Heisman Trophy, making him the first winner of the award to give it back to the Heisman Trust. 

At the time of the NCAA's discipline, USC disassociated itself from Bush. The Trojans ended their disassociation with the California native in June 2020.