Over 10,000 athletes opt-in to EA Sports College Football 25 video game

Just 10 days after the launch of the NIL opt-in program, EA Sports College Football 25 has seen more than 10,000 athletes sign up to participate in the game, the video game company announced on Monday.

The first college football video game produced in more than a decade, athletes will be able to profit off their name, image and likeness being used in the game. As previously reported, all athletes who opt-in will eventually receive $600 plus a copy of the game, typically valued at $70.

With the goal of having 85-man rosters for all 134 FBS teams, EA Sports is now at roughly 87% of its goal. EA hit the 10,000 sign-up mark on Friday.

“The response to the athlete opt-in opportunity for EA Sports College Football 25 has been phenomenal,” EA Sports’ senior vice president and group general manager Daryl Holt told On3 in a statement. “In the little over one week, over 10,000 athletes across the FBS have opted-in to the offer with more saying ‘yes’ every hour. We’re excited to welcome more athletes in the weeks ahead and to debut this first class of athletes in the game when it launches this summer.”

Top college football names opting-in

The buy-in to participate in the game is not limited to the minimum $600 NIL agreements. EA is working with the NIL marketplace Opendorse to ink marketing deals with some of the top players in college football.

Names like Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers have all inked partnerships and will be in the game. Opendorse previously told On3 that EA was planning to work with 100 of college football’s top names.

EA Sports is hoping most college football players opt-in to the initial window, which ends at the end of April. There’s been no update on the possibility of royalties to this point. Freshmen can opt-in when they enroll. EA is also telling players not enrolling until the summer to opt-in by April so their NIL can be included when the game is rolled out.

Through EA’s partnership with OneTeam Partners, athletes can download the Compass NIL app and register, going through the process of signing a non-exclusive agreement. Athletes can enter their tax and payment info, too.

“OneTeam proudly announces our successful aggregation of rights for EA’s College Football game in the first week, with 10,000+ players already opting in,” OneTeam’s director of college strategy and operations Aaron Solender told On3. “This establishes the world’s largest single sport licensing program, highlighting our capabilities to champion athletes’ rights on a massive scale. As reps for tens of thousands of college athletes, authenticity is our priority amid the excitement for the game’s return.

“Our collaboration with EA Sports allows us to expand rights across various sports, providing more opportunities for college athletes. As a former walk-on in EA’s 2014 title, I’m thrilled to see similar players getting a chance to participate in the game.”

What to expect in EA Sports College Football 25?

The original EA college football video game franchise ran from 1998 until 2013. Moving from the Bill Walsh College Football moniker to NCAA Football, the annual game was eventually discontinued. Lawsuits emerged, most notably former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and 19 others’ decision to sue the NCAA, arguing the organization violated United States antitrust laws by not allowing athletes to make a share of the revenues generated from the use of their in broadcasts and video games.

The video game was last sold in 2013. At the time, EA Sports sold roughly 1.5 million copies. That number is expected to grow exponentially next summer, especially with college football fans waiting more than a decade for the franchise to return.

After months of anticipation, EA formally announced last month the game will be released in the summer of 2024. A full reveal of the upcoming video game will be unveiled in May. The official release date is expected to come in July, the same month previous games have been released.

In a teaser trailer released, EA showed development images of the gates at Beaver Stadium, the Gator head that Florida players touch when running onto the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Notre Dame players touching the “Play Like A Champion” sign.

EA also announced the ESPN broadcast crew, which includes Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler, among others. The transfer portal, which has dominated the sport with its one-time transfer rule recently, will also be included. NIL will play a role, too. With conference realignment and an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, the game will surely have a different feel than NCAA 14, the last time the game was released.