Editing Reggie Bush (section)

====Heisman Trophy reinstatement campaign and success (2020–2024)====
On June 9, 2020, USC announced they would be ending their disassociation with Bush following the conclusion of the NCAA's mandated 10-year span.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonagura |first=Kyle |date=June 9, 2020 |title=USC Expected to end Reggie Bush disassociation |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29289915/sources-usc-expected-end-reggie-bush-disassociation-school |access-date=June 9, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=June 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610014840/https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29289915/sources-usc-expected-end-reggie-bush-disassociation-school |url-status=live }}</ref> After the NCAA ruled to allow players to make money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) on June 30, 2021,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/30/sports/ncaabasketball/ncaa-nil-rules.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/30/sports/ncaabasketball/ncaa-nil-rules.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited |title=College Athletes May Earn Money From Their Fame, N.C.A.A. Rules |work=The New York Times |last=Blinder |first=Alan |date=June 30, 2021 |access-date=September 15, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Bush began advocating for the reinstatement of his Heisman Trophy and USC records. He  reached out to the NCAA and the Heisman Trust president Michael Comerford, but received a call from Rob Whalen, the executive director stating that Comerford would not be corresponding with them.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/college/2021/07/01/reggie-bush-wants-heisman-trophy-back-ncaas-nil-laws |title=Reggie Bush Wants Heisman Trophy Back Under NCAA's New NIL Rules |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Jackson |first=Wilton |date=July 1, 2021 |access-date=September 15, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731004523/https://www.si.com/college/2021/07/01/reggie-bush-wants-heisman-trophy-back-ncaas-nil-laws }}</ref>  On July 2, the Heisman Trust issued a statement saying that the award would be returned to Bush if the NCAA reinstated his 2005 status at USC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henning |first=Tim |date=July 2, 2021 |title=Statement from the Heisman Trophy Trust |url=https://www.heisman.com/articles/statement-from-the-heisman-trophy-trust-july-2-2021/ |access-date=October 3, 2023}}</ref>  On July 28, a statement issued by the NCAA said that no previous infractions would be re-evaluated, as the updated NIL rules continued to prohibit "pay-for-play type arrangements."<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 28, 2021 |title=NCAA won't re-evaluate penalties for Bush, other cases |url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-football-southern-california-trojans-football-9c072b7100fe4f59ad5bf3aa9732f359 |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=AP News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Lev |first1=Jacob |last2=Almasy |first2=Steve |date=July 28, 2021 |title=NCAA stance means Reggie Bush won't get Heisman Trophy back |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/us/reggie-bush-heisman-trophy-spt/index.html |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=CNN}}</ref>

In April 2023, billboards began to appear in the Los Angeles area demanding the return of Bush's Heisman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kartje |first=Ryan |date=April 26, 2023 |title=Who is behind all those billboards demanding return of Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2023-04-26/billboards-reggie-bush-heisman-trophy-usc-football-ncaa |access-date=April 26, 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125041243/https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2023-04-26/billboards-reggie-bush-heisman-trophy-usc-football-ncaa |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 14, 2023, attorneys representing USC and Bush submitted a petition to the NCAA Committee on Infractions, asking them to review their 2010 case and reconsider their decision.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 14, 2023 |title=PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC INFRACTIONS REPORT (JUNE 10, 2010) |url=https://mccathernlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-08-14-USC-RB-Petition-for-Reconsideration-of-the-2010-Report.pdf |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=mccathernlaw.com}}</ref>  On August 23, Bush announced that he was filing a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA. The lawsuit alleges that their use of the phrase "pay-for-play" in their July 2021 statement was a false claim directed at him that, consequently, damaged his reputation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mossburg |first=Cheri |date=August 23, 2023 |title=Former USC star Reggie Bush files defamation suit against NCAA, wants Heisman Trophy back |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/23/us/reggie-bush-ncaa-lawsuit-heisman-spt/index.html |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=CNN}}</ref> The purpose of this lawsuit was to help him achieve his goal of reacquiring his trophy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2023 |title=Former USC star, Helix High standout Reggie Bush plans defamation lawsuit against NCAA |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2023/08/23/former-usc-star-reggie-bush-plans-defamation-lawsuit-against-ncaa |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=KPBS Public Media |language=en}}</ref> Former Heisman winners [[Eddie George]] and [[Johnny Manziel]] voiced their support of Bush, with the latter announcing that he would boycott all future Heisman ceremonies until Bush would be allowed to stand on stage with him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 7, 2024 |title=Eddie George backs Johnny Manziel's efforts to help Reggie Bush get his Heisman back |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/eddie-george-backs-johnny-manziels-efforts-to-help-reggie-bush-get-his-heisman-back |access-date=April 26, 2025 |website=[[Fox Sports]] |language=en}}</ref>

On April 24, 2024, the Heisman Trust announced it would return the Heisman Trophy to Bush, citing "enormous changes in the college football landscape".<ref name="PeteThamel" /> Among the changes cited, were changes to the NCAA's NIL payment policy and the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]]'s [[National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston|2021 decision]] that questioned the legality of the NCAA's amateurism model.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/heisman-reggie-bush-5ec9ed713534ca1081a0777b699d0385|title=Reggie Bush is reinstated as 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, with organizers citing NIL rule changes|publisher=Associated Press|date=April 24, 2024|accessdate=April 24, 2024}}</ref> USC also restored Bush's banner at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]] and retired his number alongside the school's other Heisman winners.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Phillips|first=Ryan|url=https://www.si.com/college-football/usc-brings-back-reggie-bush-number-coliseum|title=USC Brings Back Reggie Bush's Prestigious Honor at Coliseum|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=September 5, 2024|access-date=September 5, 2024}}</ref>