If there’s one thing that all college football fans can get excited about, it’s the release of the first NCAA football game in over a decade.
Once compensation for name, image and likeness was implemented in college athletics, it opened the door for the mega-popular EA Sports College Football games to return. It’s been nearly 11 years since NCAA 14 was released in 2013, but the wait is nearly over.
EA Sports College Football 25 is scheduled to release this summer, with more information coming this month, and the excitement is starting to be felt throughout college football.
There were a handful of posters taped to telephone poles around Oakland this week that showcased how the Pitt Panthers will be featured in the new game.
A Supreme Court ruling in the case of NCAA v. Alston, which directly led to NCAA policy allowing for NIL compensation, was perhaps the biggest catalyst in the return of the games.
Once NIL requirements were satisfied, EA announced that every FBS football player would receive $600 and a copy of the game, which retails at $69.99, for using their name, image and likeness. There were some opt-outs, highlighted by Texas quarterback Arch Manning, but it appears as though every Pitt Panther will be in the game. However, if a player does opt-out, a created player will not be able to be named after said player.
EA Sports worked with One Team Partners to deal with NIL rights and CLC, which is the country’s top college trademark licensing company, allowing over 15,000 current student-athletes to make merchandise deals.
The Compass CLC app allowed all student-athletes to opt in or out of their NIL of the upcoming video game.
There will likely be new game modes added to EA Sports College Football 25, but the usual modes of Dynasty, Road Glory and Ultimate Team will be available.
There hasn’t been a cover athlete announced at this point, although it appears that there will likely be regional variants. Former Pitt star and NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald was the cover athlete for NCAA Football 2005 — and eventually for Madden 10.
I’m looking forward to this game for sure. I’m all for realism, but hopefully NIL doesn’t ruin the video game just like it ruined real football.
hahahaha