After an 11-year absence, EA Sports’ iconic college football video game returned in 2024 with College Football 25, marking the first time players’ real names and likenesses were legally used. While participants were offered a one-time payment of $600 and a free copy of the game, many athletes now believe they deserve more. More than 450 college football players have signed with Pathway Sports and Entertainment, an agency that promises better compensation. Pathway has already paid each player $1,500 up front and is pushing for additional royalties to surpass EA Sports’ initial offer.
Founded by former Altius Sports Partners CEO Casey Schwab, Pathway Sports has yet to formally negotiate with EA Sports. However, the agency is confident it can secure higher earnings for athletes beyond their current agreements. Players featured in the game’s marketing and cover art have already received additional payments, but the broader player pool is seeking a more substantial payout, considering the game’s massive commercial success.
All of this was unimaginable ten years ago, or even four years ago in 2021, when the NIL era began in the NCAA. Undoubtedly, EA Sports knew when to return to the scene with the best-selling sports game in 2024, and this will surely continue, because its excellent graphics that make you feel like you are a player in the stadium and its style of play make it an excellent game, hence its enormous success.
NFLPA Issues Warning Over Pathway NIL Deal
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has raised concerns about Pathway Sports’ NIL licensing agreement, warning that it could hinder the ability of future NFL players to participate in the league’s group licensing program. The Pathway agreement grants the company a first option and right of first refusal to negotiate players’ NIL rights for professional video games. This provision could limit a player’s control over his NIL once he joins the NFL, as any future video game licensing deal would have to be negotiated with Pathway first.
As with any issue that involves them, no matter how minor, the NFL is always prepared to be taken seriously in the future, which is why they are the most watched league in the world and the most important economically.
In a statement, the NFLPA emphasized that all NFL players must sign the NFL’s standard player contract, which requires exclusive licensing of NIL through the union’s group licensing program. That program extends beyond video games to include trading cards, jerseys and other commercial opportunities. The NFLPA warned that players who sign with Pathway could face legal and contractual complications that could make them ineligible for lucrative licensing deals under the union’s agreement with EA Sports and other partners. As more athletes consider Pathway’s offer, the battle over NIL rights in video games is far from over.
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