EA Sports is making waves with its highly anticipated College Football 26 video game, and it’s not just for the gameplay.
The video game juggernaut announced a significant boost in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments for college football players who opt-in.
According to The Athletic, they’ll raise the compensation from $600 to $1,500 per player.
This more-than-doubled payout, totaling over $16.5 million across more than 11,000 anticipated participants, reflects the massive success of College Football 25, which became the best-selling sports game in the U.S. in 2024.
In addition to the sweet stipend, all players will get a Deluxe Edition of the game.
Not a bad deal if you’re a broke college kid who just wants to play.
EA Sports ‘College Football 26’ is reportedly paying over $16 million for the rights to players’ likeness
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) March 19, 2025
via The Athletic pic.twitter.com/tPM8AGTzOq
EA Sports Awarding The Biggest Payout
We haven’t even reached the good money yet. Ambassadors and cover athletes can earn even more through separate deals with EA Sports.
The company is clearly committed to rewarding athletes amid the evolving landscape of college sports.
With Pathway Sports & Entertainment also securing NIL rights for some players at $1,500 upfront, top athletes could pocket up to $3,000.
This marks the largest single-sport NIL deal ever, underscoring the growing financial stakes in sports video games. Could a College Basketball game be far behind?
Such plans are not currently in the works, but they probably need to be post-haste.
We really need a college basketball video game soon 👀 march madness would be insane pic.twitter.com/45IoUKNkNG
— Is EA Sports College Football 26 Out (@IsItOutEa) December 18, 2024
Fans Looking Forward To College Football 26
EA Sports College Football 26 is expected to be a great game due to the massive success of its predecessor, College Football 25.
That might be bad news for Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Charles Huff. Huff told reporters earlier this year that his most significant problem in the locker room “was players complaining about their ratings on College Football 25.”
Last year’s version was aided by over 11 years of anticipation. But including real player names through NIL deals also made it the top-selling game of 2024, outpacing even Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
The significant increase in NIL payments for this season’s players ensures broad participation from top college athletes, enhancing the game’s authenticity and appeal.
Additionally, leaked features like the potential return of Mascot Mode and the inclusion of real coaches promise fresh, fan-favorite elements to elevate the gameplay experience.
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