Reggie Bush Regains Heisman Trophy After 15 Years
Former USC Trojans running back Reggie Bush has been reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, according to an announcement made by Heisman officials on Wednesday. The decision comes 15 years after Bush’s initial award was vacated due to an improper benefits scandal.
In 2005, Bush was named college football’s best player, convincingly winning the vote over star quarterbacks of the time such as Texas’ Vince Young, Bush’s teammate Matt Leinart, Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn, and Penn State’s Michael Robinson. However, five years later, Bush was stripped of his Heisman Trophy after allegations surfaced that his family received benefits from an agent while he was still a student-athlete at Southern Cal.
USC had surrendered its replica of the trophy it had displayed on campus, and Bush was no longer invited to Heisman Trophy ceremonies. Heisman officials said it was difficult to maintain sanctions against Bush when modern college athletes are profiting from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals.
“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” Heisman Trophy Trust president Michael Comerford said in a statement. “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back.”
