Johnny Manziel has gone all out to defend and support Reggie Bush who was robbed of his Heisman Trophy in 2010. And this isn’t the first time Johnny Manziel is standing up for the Super Bowl champion. Previously, he announced that he would not be a part of the Heisman trophy ceremony in December until the NCAA gives back what rightfully belongs to Bush.

This time, he’s throwing shade on the NCAA regarding NIL rules. In the past, there were no such rules that allowed student-athletes to use their NIL to earn or profit, the reason why Bush was stripped of his Heisman title. But with the present scenario, things have changed. And the NCAA should right the wrong done to Bush, or so Manziel thinks. 

Johnny Manziel thinks the NCAA reinstating Bush’s Heisman glory is the right thing to do

Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005 when he was with the USC Trojans. But amid scandals, he had to vacate his trophy to the NCAA in 2010 after the organization found out that he was profiting off his NIL, which was prohibited at the time. Johnny Manziel previously posted his displeasure on X that the NCAA isn’t being fair to Bush even after the change in the NIL rules. Someone replied that the past can’t be fixed with “today’s rules and landscapes.” Manziel slammed the comment with a response, saying, “That’s what “making it right” means. You sure as hell can.”

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In the present scenario, the NCAA rules have changed, allowing college players to earn through NIL. Manziel takes the instance of the last two Heisman Trophy winners, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, who “made a combined 12 million last year” to roast the NCAA. According to Manziel, handing back the Trophy to Bush would clear the NCAA of the big blemish they had in their history when they wiped the winner out from their Heisman list. Nevertheless, does Manziel have a point regarding Bush?

Is the NCAA doing injustice to Reggie Bush? 

In 2010, the NCAA sanctioned USC because Reggie Bush was receiving gifts and offers from an agent. But NIL guidelines were revamped in 2021, allowing players to profit from their name, image, and likeness. Taking the last two Heisman winners, for instance, in his two years at USC, Caleb Williams reportedly earned around $10 million while Jayden Daniels has about $2 million in NIL valuation.

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Bush has been fighting for his award to be reinstated since the year the guidelines were issued. Nevertheless, his efforts still go in vain, despite a new 2023 petition to the NCAA. The NCAA’s staunch refusal comes as an eye-raising judgment to people like Johnny Manziel.

This injustice to Bush not only infuriated Manziel but also sparked disapproval among notable figures including basketball coach Rick Pitino. Pitino feels that the trophy loss is “one of the most hypocritical moves of all time.” Only time can tell if the NCAA will reconsider its judgment and give back what Bush fairly earned. What do you make of Manziel’s declaration regarding the NCAA and Reggie Bush/

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