A Decade-Long Hiatus: EA Sports Announces the Return of NCAA Football Video Game
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – For the first time in over a decade, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is gearing up for a NCAA Football Video Game return in 2024.
NCAA Football 14 was the last iteration of the video game, released in July of 2013. EA Sports and the NCAA have plans to release its next NCAA Football video game at some point in the summer of 2024.
Compensation Controversy: Athletes’ Rights to Name, Image, and Likeness
What makes this interesting is that now NCAA football student-athletes have the right to be compensated for their name, image and likeness that will be used in the video game. EA Sports has been working with OneTeam Partners to negotiate the licensing deal for all of the FBS college football players. OneTeam Partners also has represented the NFLPA and its players in licensing negotiations for the Madden video game franchise. OneTeam’s negotiating on behalf of NCAA football student-athletes raises one very important question:
If a NCAA Football Video Game return takes place in 2024, what players, teams or players’ union appointed OneTeam Partners to negotiate on their behalf?
It appears once again that the NCAA, EA Sports and OneTeam Partners may be in cahoots with one another to provide the athletes with a sliver of the pie that may be worth as much as several hundred million in revenue. Players can opt-in to the deal with EA Sports and OneTeam Partners and lend their NIL to the game for a one-time payment of approximately $500.
No revenue share. No additional compensation based on future sales.
Rising Opposition: CFPA Advocates for Athlete Boycott and Fair Negotiation
If the NCAA Football game makes $700 million – which is about what the Madden football franchise makes in sales annually – players who have opted into this deal are not entitled to anything.
The College Football Players Association (CFPA) and several other athlete advocacy groups are already urging college football players to boycott the game and opt out of the deal. Time will tell how many athletes band together to opt out and try to broker a fair deal for themselves in a negotiation process of their own choosing.