Could NIL Derail EA Sports College Football Video Game?

NIL is becoming a hurdle for the EA Sports NCAA Football video game set to release in 2024

Since NIL was introduced to college athletics in 2021, the policy has been the topic of discussion around the nation, as athletes in every collegiate sport are vying for their own piece of this massive pie. The sport that the NIL has hit the hardest is obviously, college football.

Recruiting has roughly turned into NFL free agency in the last two years, with the 2023 offseason being the busiest cycle in the history of the NCAA Transfer Portal.

NIL did bring hope, however, to the group of college football fans who have been patiently waiting for the return of the massively popular NCAA CFB video game by EA Sports, which was last released in 2013 before the game was shut down due to players having issues with name, image, and likeness. The new policy appeared to solve this problem, as players are now able to profit from their own likeness, and the game is now expected to release in 2024.

NIL breathed life back into the NCAA CFB video game franchise, but it is now acting as an obstacle to its return, as players are now reportedly considering holdouts over NIL payouts. In May, On3 reported that the total compensation for players opting into the video game would be roughly $5 million, meaning each player receives approximately $500.

While $500 sounds like fair compensation - considering college athletes are getting paid to appear in a video game - the idea of a holdout stems from the upper echelon of college football players. The marquee athletes have discussed that their rate should be more than the original amount, as their name, image, and likeness are what draws fans to the video game.

According to On3, Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels could "definitely see" a holdout on the horizon.

“Yes. Yes. I can definitely see that,” Daniels told reporters. “I could definitely see it, especially with the highest college football players that are in the nation right now. If they’re getting paid as, you know, somebody who a lot of people really don’t know of and they’re the most known person in college football, I can definitely see their agent saying, ‘Alright, what’s going on here?'”

Another Jayhawk, running back Devin Neal, stated that he believes the original $500 check is plenty.

“I honestly think that $500 is a pretty good amount,” Neal said.

And other players, such as UAB Blazers defensive tackle Fish McWilliams, believe that just appearing in the video game is payment enough.

“Obviously, just having the video game back itself would be OK with me,” McWilliams said. “I appreciate the NIL for the NCAA game. But I really just want to play the video game and just get it back out there cause it’s been gone for almost 10 years now.”

Fans and players alike have certainly felt the absence of one of the most beloved video game franchises in recent history. Unfortunately, there is a chance they have to keep waiting. 

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