A federal lawsuit against Ohio State University is growing rapidly, with thirty former football players,including several who went on to play in the NFL,now joining the legal action against the school. This latest development in the Ohio State sexual abuse lawsuit represents one of the most significant expansions of the case, driven by men who have carried the weight of abuse for decades before finally deciding to speak out.
The lawsuit centers on Dr. Richard Strauss, a team physician who worked at Ohio State from 1978 to 1998 and is accused of sexually abusing hundreds of student athletes during his two-decade tenure. Strauss died in 2005, but the legal and institutional reckoning over the school’s handling of his conduct continues to unfold.
Why Now? Former Players Explain Their Decision to Join the Lawsuit
Attorney Rocky Ratliff, who represents the newly joined plaintiffs, revealed that the men came forward roughly eight years after the original lawsuit was filed in 2018. The delay, according to Ratliff, stemmed from deeply personal barriers,shame around being sexually abused by another man and fear of confronting a major public university.
“They are tearful and living with it,” Ratliff said. “But as this case progresses on, they see how Ohio State’s treating athletes from the university and I think they want people to know it’s OK, even if it is male to male (sexual abuse), to come forward.”
Of the thirty former players who signed letters of agreement to join the case, only three have chosen to publicly disclose their identities: Al Washington, Ray Ellis, and Keith Ferguson. All three were members of the legendary 1980 Rose Bowl team and had been personally recruited by iconic head coach Woody Hayes.
Al Washington’s Story: A Linebacker’s Painful Memories
Al Washington, now 67, played linebacker at Ohio State before being selected in the fourth round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. After one season with the Jets, Washington continued his professional career with the Ottawa Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
Speaking publicly for the first time about his experience, Washington described the abuse as “unlawful” physical examinations conducted by Strauss when he was just 18 or 19 years old. Back then, Washington and his teammates tried to cope by joking about it with each other.
“But it was really uncomfortable,” Washington said. “We kind of tried to make light of it and joke about it.”
For decades, Washington kept the experience to himself. It wasn’t until he watched the 2025 documentary film “Surviving Ohio State” that the memories resurfaced with overwhelming force.
“As a matter of fact, I couldn’t make it through that movie,” Washington said. “The pain and anguish that I saw, I just couldn’t take it.”
Ray Ellis: A Veteran Safety Speaks Out
Ray Ellis, also 67, carved out an impressive seven-year NFL career as a safety. After his time at Ohio State, Ellis was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles and played five seasons with the team before finishing his career with two years in a Cleveland Browns uniform. Over the course of his professional football career, Ellis recorded 14 interceptions and three sacks.
Keith Ferguson: The Defensive End Who Made His Mark in the NFL
Keith Ferguson rounded out the trio of publicly identified plaintiffs. At 67, Ferguson enjoyed one of the most decorated careers of the group, playing defensive end at Ohio State before being selected in the fifth round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He spent five seasons with the Chargers and six more with the Detroit Lions, where his best season came in 1986 with 9½ sacks.
Common Threads Among the Identified Plaintiffs
- All three were part of the 1980 Rose Bowl team
- All were personally recruited by legendary coach Woody Hayes
- All experienced abuse during the Strauss era (1978-1998)
- All are now 67 years old
- All kept their abuse secret for decades before coming forward
Ohio State’s Response and Ongoing Settlement Efforts
Ohio State has issued an official statement responding to the expanded lawsuit. The university claims it has “sincerely and persistently tried to reconcile with survivors, including former football student-athletes, through monetary and non-monetary means, including settlements, counseling services and other medical treatment.”
According to the most recent figures available as of April 15, the university has settled with 317 survivors for more than $61 million combined. The school has also indicated that it remains actively engaged in mediation efforts to resolve additional claims.
Some former football players have already reached confidential settlements with the school, which kept their identities permanently hidden. These sealed agreements represent a separate path from the federal litigation that continues to expand.
The Legacy of Dr. Richard Strauss and Institutional Accountability
Dr. Richard Strauss joined the Ohio State faculty and medical staff in 1978 and remained in his position for twenty years before retiring in 1998. During his tenure, hundreds of student athletes would later report being sexually abused by him. In a symbolic move three years ago, the Ohio State Board of Trustees voted to revoke Strauss’s emeritus status,the honorary title typically granted to retiring faculty members,recognizing the gravity of the harm he caused.
The original lawsuits were filed in federal court in 2018, and the case has continued to grow as more survivors learn about the legal proceedings. The decision of these thirty former football players to join the existing litigation adds significant weight to the case, particularly given the prominence of NFL veterans among the group.
The Broader Implications for College Sports and Institutional Reform
The Ohio State case represents one of the largest known instances of institutional failure to address sexual abuse in college athletics. As the lawsuit expands, it raises critical questions about how universities respond to allegations of abuse by medical staff, coaches, and other authority figures within athletic programs.
Key Issues Raised by the Expanded Lawsuit
- Institutional negligence , The core allegation is that Ohio State failed to act on warning signs and protect student athletes despite their legal duty of care.
- Cultural barriers to reporting , The reluctance of male athletes to report sexual abuse highlights ongoing stigma that continues to silence victims.
- Delayed accountability , The fact that survivors are only now coming forward decades later demonstrates how trauma and institutional loyalty can delay justice.
- The role of documentation , The 2025 documentary “Surviving Ohio State” appears to have played a catalytic role in encouraging additional survivors to come forward.
What Comes Next in the Ohio State Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
As the federal case moves forward, the thirty new plaintiffs will join the existing litigation, increasing the pressure on Ohio State to either settle additional claims or face prolonged courtroom proceedings. With 317 survivors already receiving settlements totaling more than $61 million, the financial exposure for the university continues to grow with each additional plaintiff.
The publicly identified plaintiffs,Washington, Ellis, and Ferguson,represent not only their own experiences but serve as symbolic figures for the many survivors who remain anonymous. By stepping into the spotlight, they have helped legitimize the experiences of countless other male athletes who suffered similar abuse in silence.
Conclusion: A Continuing Reckoning at Ohio State
The expansion of the Ohio State sexual abuse lawsuit with thirty additional former players marks a watershed moment in the broader reckoning over institutional accountability in college athletics. For men like Al Washington, Ray Ellis, and Keith Ferguson,accomplished athletes who reached the pinnacle of their sport,the decision to publicly identify themselves as survivors required extraordinary courage.
While Ohio State points to its financial settlements and counseling services as evidence of good-faith efforts at reconciliation, the continued growth of the lawsuit suggests that the university’s response has yet to satisfy many survivors. The case will likely continue to evolve as more former student athletes learn that their voices can be heard without shame, and as the legal system works through the complex issues of institutional responsibility and survivor compensation.
For decades, the abuse perpetrated by Dr. Richard Strauss remained an open secret within the Ohio State football program. Today, thanks to the bravery of those willing to come forward, that secret is finally being confronted in courtrooms and in public discourse,with no signs of resolution in the near future.