September 04, 2025
EA Sports College Football 27 Faces Potential Roadblocks, According to Insider Licensing agreements and NIL deals pose challenges for the future of the franchise
EA Sports College Football 26 has already made waves since its July release, but attention is already shifting towards College Football 27. On Thursday, an insider shared insights into what we can expect from the next version of the popular franchise. While there are exciting updates on the horizon, one significant issue could impact the game’s future.
⚠️ One Big Complication for College Football 27
A key aspect of building the EA College Football franchise is the licensing agreements with players, which allow their likenesses to be used in the game. Previously, these players received a base fee of $600 for their image rights, but the latest contract sent by EA Sports is expected to raise that fee to $1500 per player. However, this increase comes with a major caveat: the removal of a clause that allowed players to opt out of their deals in future years. This change reduces the players’ flexibility, limiting their ability to negotiate better deals going forward.
💰 The Impact of NIL and Pathway Sports
The NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals have brought new challenges for EA Sports, as nearly 4000 power conference football players have signed their exclusive video game rights with Pathway Sports & Entertainment. Pathway, which has already paid over $6 million to these players, is negotiating better deals on their behalf. However, the latest EA contract still hasn't reached an agreement with Pathway, creating uncertainty over the future of these deals.
Pathway responded by emphasizing their commitment to helping athletes maximize their value, stating that they aim to align with EA Sports to create the best experience for college football fans. However, the absence of a clear deal between EA and Pathway could pose a significant complication moving forward.
📝 Challenges of College Football Player Negotiations
Negotiating player agreements for EA College Football is vastly different from the NFL franchise. In the NFL, player negotiations are handled by the NFLPA, which negotiates collective rights on behalf of players. Unfortunately, college football lacks a similar collective bargaining body, making the process more complex. However, Pathway Sports is stepping into that role for many college athletes, which could create a similar structure to what we see in professional leagues.
📅 Looking Ahead to College Football 27
While EA Sports College Football 27 is still a year away, licensing issues and NIL complications could affect how the game evolves. As the release date draws nearer, fans will be hoping for smoother negotiations that allow for a seamless experience when the game launches.