• Loading stock data...
Sunday, June 29, 2025

EA Sports: Who’s in the Game? (Not Arch Manning, for One)

  • EA says that 10,000-plus players have opted in to appearing in its new video game, ‘College Football 25.’ One of the biggest names, though, notably declined.
  • Here’s a quick rundown of the fallout and pushback since the game-maker agreed to pay opt-ins.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for EA Sports since the company released details about its upcoming college football video game, College Football 25, for which it will pay college athletes who opt in to allowing the use of their name, image, and likeness.

EA will send football players $600 and a free copy of the game, and provide NIL opportunities to college athletes (including nonfootball players) to promote the game—but players will not receive royalties for their participation. Some have viewed the arrangement as a win—after all, the 2014 lawsuit filed by former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon against EA essentially sparked today’s NIL revolution—but others, like those with the College Football Players Association, say the lack of royalties equates to college athletes “being treated like children.”

“We say the market should decide what players should be compensated, and the way you do that with a group licensing deal is through royalties,” the CFBPA’s founder and executive director, Jason Stahl, tells Front Office Sports.

Stahl also criticizes the licensing firm OneTeam Partners, which negotiated the EA deal on behalf of the college athletes, an untraditional model in group licensing given the absence of an all-encompassing players union.

“This isn’t about judging a player’s decision [to opt in or not]. It’s about judging and critiquing the process through which this all happened,” Stahl says.

Against the backdrop of that pushback, EA announced Monday that more than 10,000 players have opted in to the game, including big names such as quarterbacks Quinn Ewers (Texas), Carson Beck (Georgia), and Jalen Milroe (Alabama). The company said it was 87% of the way to reaching its goal of 85-player rosters.

A major exception: On Monday, Anwar Richardson, who covers Texas football for Rivals, reported that Arch Manning will not opt in to the game, as he’s “focused on playing football on the field.” The Longhorns’ five-star backup behind Ewers signed a partnership with Panini in July, with all proceeds from the trading card’s sale going to charity. While Manning is expected to play behind Ewers for another season, Manning is still one of the biggest names in college football and a notable omission for EA, which has confirmed to ESPN that users will not be allowed to create a football player who does not opt in. In other words: Texas fans won’t be able to use a workaround to get Manning on their roster.

The changing backdrop of NIL

EA’s initial announcement of allowing college athletes to opt in for its game was followed a day later by a U.S. district judge in Tennessee taking away the NCAA’s power to enforce any of its NIL rules. And Tuesday, in New Hampshire, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team will hold a vote on unionizing, which is planned to be the first in NCAA history announced to the public.

College Football 25 is just another example of a rapidly evolving NIL landscape, challenging the norms of both amateurism and the NCAA itself.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Seattle Rough & Tumble

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
Joopiter, Michael Jordan card

Michael Jordan Rookie Card Sells for Record $2.5M in Eyebrow-Raising Auction

The auction, which received only one bid, sets a new record.
WNBA

Portland WNBA Team President Out After Just Two Months As Launch Gets..

Portland has struggled to hire a GM, according to a source.
Leo Messi

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.

Featured Today

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena
June 22, 2025

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Mar 23, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jeremy Roach (3) reacts after a play during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center.

Power Four Put Finishing Touches on How Revenue Sharing Era Will Work

The agreement stipulates that schools can’t sue to challenge any terms of the settlement.
Sep 16, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Sacramento State Hornets running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver (25) celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium.
June 25, 2025

Sacramento State ‘Full Steam Ahead’ for FBS Despite Not Receiving NCAA Waiver

The Hornets launched a public campaign to join the FBS last fall.
June 26, 2025

Pac-12 Rebuild Nears Completion With 2026 Texas State Addition

The Sun Belt school is likely joining the Pac-12 in 2026.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Jun 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina infielder Jackson Van De Brake (6) and outfielder Carter French (18) celebrate an out during the first inning of the Super Regionals game against Arizona in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
June 25, 2025

Most Power Conference Sports Won’t See Revenue-Sharing Dollars

But there is a silver lining for Olympic sports: more scholarships.
June 23, 2025

Colleges Are Raising Student Fees to Pay for Athlete Revenue-Sharing

Schools are preparing to pay student athletes up to $20.5 million annually.
Dec 27, 2024; San Diego, CA, USA; The Washington State Cougars ban perform during the second half at the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit:
June 23, 2025

Pac-12 Announces CBS As ‘Anchor’ in New Media-Rights Deal

The league may announce expansion before finalizing the rest of the package.
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is shown during the first quarter of their game against South Dakota Saturday, September 7 , 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
June 20, 2025

Wisconsin Sues Miami for ‘Tampering’ With Football Transfer

Xavier Lucas signed NIL deals in Madison before transferring to Miami.