Thursday, November 5, 2026

EA Sports Puts a Price on College Football Game Appearance: $600 and Some Swag

  • The highly anticipated NIL terms have finally dropped.
  • Players will get a payout without royalties, a free copy of the video game, and the chance for more NIL deals.
EA Sports
Syndication: Asbury Park Press

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

College football players can begin to opt in to EA Sports College Football 25 starting Thursday, the gaming company announced. The video game is slated to be available this summer.

Front Office Sports confirmed the terms of the deal: College football players can opt in to the deal—if they’re chosen by EA, they’ll get $600, a free version of the game, and the chance to make more money from other EA Sports name, image, and likeness deals. They will not receive outside royalties, however.

The game will include up to 85 football players per school, and athletes from other sports will also be able to get paid for promotional work, ESPN reported. The video game is slated to drop this summer.

The game would keep players for their whole career (including transferring, as long as they stay on a roster) and get paid annually, unless they choose to opt out, per ESPN.

The announcement comes after nearly a decade without college sports video games. The 2014 lawsuit brought by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon challenging EA’s use of his NIL without compensation in its college basketball video game helped spark the NIL movement. In some ways, EA is the most high-profile product in the new NIL era because it was the center of what led to NIL in the first place.

These deals are typically negotiated with a union rather than individual players, creating a tumultuous process for EA. An NIL group licensing company filed a lawsuit against EA over that issue in June, claiming EA was going around its agreements with schools to work with athletes directly, before dropping it in December. OneTeam Partners negotiated the deal on behalf of athletes in this case.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Miami’s High-Priced QB Loses Top Target Before Notre Dame Clash

Mensah leads college football in multiple passing categories.

Cody Campbell’s Texas Tech Board Seat in Jeopardy After Elections

Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa could replace Texas university board members.
Aug 23, 2026; Westfield, Indiana, USA; Bryson DeChambeau tees off on hole 11 during the final round of the LIV Golf Indianapolis golf tournament at The Club at Chatham Hills.

LIV Golf Is Shutting Down, Lawyers Confirm in Bankruptcy Hearing

The Saudi PIF spent more than $5 billion on LIV since the league launched.
Nov 2, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Exclusive

LeBron James Demands AI Betting App Stop Using His Likeness

James’s camp sent the company a cease and desist letter.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

11/5/26 – Owners’ $100M Midterm Miss, College Sports Bill’s Uncertain Future, Peyton Tops ‘MNF’ List

0:00

Featured Today

Pickering High School North

High School Athletic Directors Say They’re Running ‘Mini Colleges’

ADs are managing a growing list of demands from athletes and parents.
October 30, 2026

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Apr 12, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; The Florida State Seminoles logo before the start of the spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State’s Coach Search Puts Roster Budget in Focus

Portal planning is already underway ahead of the Jan. 4 window.
Voters were up bright and early to cast their votes at Belville Elementary School in Brunswick County Nov. 3, 2026.
November 4, 2026

College Sports Bill in Peril After Democrats Sweep Midterms

The Protect College Sports Act could drown in the blue wave.
November 4, 2026

Multiple States Ban Transgender Athletes From Women’s Sports

Arizona and Nebraska passed measures banning transgender athletes from girls sports.
Sponsored

How Jeremy Bloom Is Reinventing the X Games

Jeremy Bloom discusses transforming the X Games into a global brand.
November 3, 2026

Syracuse AD Wants Basketball Powerhouse to Prioritize Football

Syracuse hosts Clemson this weekend with ACC Network’s pregame show in town.
Jeremy Bloom
November 3, 2026

Why Jeremy Bloom Hasn’t Donated NIL Money to Colorado Football

“I think that the system is broken,” Bloom said.
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; ESPN personality Rece Davis interviews Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
November 3, 2026

ESPN’s CFP Rankings Show Returns Amid Scrutiny, New Criteria

Six two-loss SEC teams will test how the committee weighs schedule strength.
November 2, 2026

College Basketball Returns to the Court After Chaotic Offseason

The Tigers were at the center of NCAA eligibility drama.