By: Jeremy Brandspiegel
The return of EA Sports' College Football game after 11 years has generated tons of excitement, especially with the announcement that all 134 FBS teams will be featured in the upcoming game, EA Sports College Football 25. With the announcement, players now face the decision to opt-in or out of the game, which connects to the broader topic of how Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals have taken center stage.
The opt-in period allows college football players to choose whether they want to be included in the game, which comes with compensation set at $600 and a complimentary copy of the game, according to CBS Sports.
With NIL deals constantly popping up for thousands of college athletes, the straightforward offer has sparked conversations about the compensation and whether it is fair, even if the game is very popular and anticipated.
Recruiting insider Hayes Fawcett put out a question on his Instagram page asking players whether they would accept the offered compensation or opt-out and negotiate for a potentially higher payment. The responses from players varied and provided insights into their perspectives. Many expressed excitement over the opportunity to be featured in a game that holds so much anticipation and popularity,
"I already signed it, idc bout the bread," shared Clemson defensive end Tomarrion Parker in Athlon Sports. Similarly, Texas A&M offensive Colton Thomasson expressed his excitement stating, "I was gonna take it for just a copy of the game lol. Been wanting to be in this game since I was a kid." These responses highlight the unique value players place on being part of a game they grew up playing and cherishing.
The NCAA's decision to change its NIL policy in 2021 paved the way for players to benefit directly from their name and image. EA Sports, in collaboration with OneTeam and Learfield's COMPASS NIL app, is facilitating this process, allowing players to opt into the game and receive compensation. The scale of this effort is unprecedented with an estimated 11,000 players eligible for NIL compensation, making it the largest video game group licensing project to date.
Despite some criticisms over whether the compensation is enough, many players are embracing the opportunity and emphasizing the value of seeing their name in the game. As Alabama tight end CJ Dippre puts it, "Can hold my money, just wanna be in the game."
EA Sports College Football 25 and the surrounding NIL deals mark a pivotal moment in college sports, outside of the game finally making its return. With all of the players being compensated, this is by far the largest scale NIL deal and situation since it became legal. This layout could prove to be a model for future NIL deals in college sports, whether it is for future football games, other sports or other deals in general. NCAA is finally making its return and it is doing so with NIL right at the center of it.