EA SPORTSMore than 14,000 players are reportedly set for a nice payday just so EA can use their names and likenesses in College Football 26.
College football games were discontinued after NCAA 14 in 2013 due to legal issues surrounding the use of the names and likenesses of unpaid college athletes in the game.
In 2021, the NIL deal enacted a new policy, allowing athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. This paved the way for EA to pay college football players $600 to be included in College Football 25.
The 11-year hiatus paid dividends as CFB 25 exceeded expectations and became the all-time best-selling sports video game in US History in dollar sales. It’s unclear how much revenue the game generated, but it was a hit sensation.
College football players will reportedly reap the rewards of that success.
College Football 26 is paying over $16 million just for athletes
EA SportsThe Athletic reported that EA Sports will pay players $1,500 each in NIL for College Football 26. This is more than double the original amount of $600, and some players will get up to $3,000 if they are a higher profile player or cover athlete.
EA paid 11,000 players for CFB 25, and The Athletic reported that the total would be the same for CFB 26. This means EA will spend more than $16.5 million just for the names and likeness deals.
It’s always possible that some players will reject the deal. Texas quarterback Arch Manning initially turned down the offer before eventually being added, and some athletes weren’t added until after the game launched. In addition, some players didn’t make it all.
College Football 26 will launch in the summer of 2025. For reference, College Football 25 launched on July 19, but that doesn’t guarantee that the new game will launch on the same date.
