There are grudges, and then there’s the Michigan Wolverines’ vendetta against the NCAA and Big Ten—a full-throttle, no-holds-barred, gloves-off legal battle that has now reached seismic levels. Nearly 340 former Wolverines have officially entered the legal battlefield and joined a lawsuit filed against the NCAA and Big Ten in September, the plaintiffs’ attorney Jim Acho said. The suit alleged the NCAA, Big Ten, and Big Ten Network, used former U-Mich’s name, image, and likeness without permission. All while the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal of the Jim Harbaugh era still lingers in the backdrop like an unwanted specter.

Jim Harbaugh might be off to the NFL, but the fight he left behind is alive and roaring. Michigan’s response to the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations was already an ironclad 137-page rebuttal, but now, with a lawsuit accusing the NCAA and Big Ten of making millions of former players’ likenesses without their consent, the stakes have risen astronomically. Pete Nakos of On3 presents the story. Former Mich standouts Denard Robinson, Braylon Edwards, and a host of former Wolverines who played prior to 2016 initially filled.

Michael Martin and Shawn Crable are also listed as plaintiffs, with other 340 players a part of it. This case isn’t just about Michigan anymore; it’s a potential landmark ruling that could shake the entire foundation of college sports economics.

In the 73-page lawsuit, filed by Robinson and former athletes, the class argues the committees have made significant dollars off their “game-winning plays and electrifying performances.” The NCAA, Big Ten, and Big Ten Network filed a motion to dismiss the suit earlier this month. Robinson was a star thrower at Michigan and won the 2010 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Leading the legal charge is Acho, who minced no words when explaining why so many former Michigan players—many of whom are already financially well off—wanted in on the lawsuit.

“Money was made off their backs, they were denied the right to use their name and image, and everybody knew decades ago it was wrong,” Acho told the Detroit Free Press. “It was unlawful. It was unethical. And these men want to make a statement.” That statement is now written in legal filings and aimed directly at the NCAA’s billion-dollar business model. Now the Wolverine Nation is directing its fire straight at Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti and NCAA President Charlie Baker.

The lawsuit’s backbone is simple: the NCAA and Big Ten Network have built their media empires on the unforgettable moments these athletes provided. From Robinson’s electrifying runs to Edwards’ legendary catches, these highlights have been replayed endlessly—monetized, syndicated, and sold—without a single dime going back to the players who made them.

Adding to the tension, the NCAA and Big Ten have already filed a motion to dismiss the case, which is no surprise given the potential ramifications. If this lawsuit gains traction, it could set a precedent that forces a complete reevaluation of how former players are compensated for their past contributions.

And speaking of penalties, Michigan fans are making it clear that they aren’t interested in waiting for court dates to dish out their own verdict. The anger bubbling over since Jim Harbaugh and current HC Sherrone Moore’s suspension back then because of the Stalions scandal has erupted into full-scale retaliation.

Wolverines fans turned werewolves

If there was any doubt about how Michigan fans feel, just take a glance at social media. Under the On3 post detailing the lawsuit, the comments section read like a declaration of war. One fan went straight for the jugular, writing, “Hey Tony Petitti you rat f**.” Another took the heat a step further, targeting NCAA leadership, saying, “F** the B1G, especially Tony Petitti. F*** the NCAA, especially Charlie Baker (who chooses to listen to his physician friend’s pe–ph-le son Alex Yood as the ‘internal leak’ against UofM).”

The intensity of the response isn’t just about the lawsuit—it’s about years of pent-up frustration. Michigan fans have watched the NCAA and Big Ten seemingly target their program with suspensions, investigations, and penalties while other schools skate by with little to no consequences. One fan summed it up bluntly: “Michigan people are fed up with the NCAA!! Sue them out of existence, NCAA f**ed with the wrong university.”

And if that wasn’t clear enough, the last comment left no room for misinterpretation: “Time to bury the NCAA.” Michigan fans aren’t just hoping for a victory in court; they want a complete overhaul of the system. Whether this lawsuit ends in a massive payout, a new policy shift, or a drawn-out legal battle, one thing is certain—the Wolverines have made their move, and they aren’t backing down.