EA Sports offers $1,5k for Student Athletes

Business

19 March 2025 12:16

EA Sports has increased its name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation for college football players appearing in College Football 26, more than doubling the payment from $600 to $1,500 per player.

According to The Athletic, EA Sports will allocate a total of $16.5 million for NIL rights in the upcoming game. This figure does not include additional compensation for ambassadors, cover athletes, or the deluxe edition of College Football 26, which is provided to participating players.

In January, EA Sports stated there were no planned changes to its player compensation structure. However, the landscape shifted in February with the emergence of NIL group Pathway, which began securing NIL rights for over 400 players, ensuring each received an upfront payment of $1,500.

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Sean O’Brien, EA Sports' vice president, emphasized the company’s commitment to a fair and accessible NIL program:

"From the beginning, we've designed our NIL program to be accessible, direct, voluntary, and equitable for all, offering the same base-level compensation to every Football Bowl Subdivision athlete that opts in using the OneTeam platform and Compass NIL app. This approach empowers each athlete to make their own decisions. College sports are evolving, and our focus remains on prioritizing athletes as we bring them into College Football 26 and beyond."

Pathway president Casey Schwab also welcomed the change, stating:

"This is great news for college football players and aligns with our vision at Pathway—to provide the most professional, transparent, and legitimate NIL program for college athletes. We look forward to working with EA and others to achieve our long-term goals."

Tags: EA Sports

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