Football is a complex term. There are different versions and depending on the country you’re in, you might find yourself watching a completely different sport. Nevertheless, college football, specifically, is so much more than just about the game itself. The pageantry, tailgates, rivalries—it’s all special. This is why the long-awaited return of the video game franchise by EA is such an exciting time for fans. EA Sports College Football is the latest name for the storied franchise fresh off of a hiatus that lasted more than a decade. However, for those playing at military schools, there’s a bit of a catch. Suggested read: 10 NFL Veterans That Defended Their Turf and Our Country

When Is EA Sports College Football Coming Out?

EA Sports College Football 25 is due to hit shelves and virtual stores on July 12th, 2024. The EA Sports College Football franchise is kicking off again and will feature every one of the 134 FBS schools as players lead their favorite colleges to a natty. The reason for the hiatus has nothing to do with lack of interest but instead, the debate around NCAA football, paying players, and the legal ramifications that might come from all of it. But it’s a different world these days. Bronny James ranks on top of the highest NIL deal valuations in the country and was able to amass more than $6 million before even playing in the NBA. This change is allowing EA to bring back college football to video games. Related read: Coast Guard Honors Legacy of NFL Legend Emlen Tunnell

Rulings on NIL Deals Provide a Comeback for EA

In 1993, Bill Walsh College Football was released in June 1993 on the Sega Genesis and Sega CD by EA Sports. This would begin a franchise spanning decades and generating millions of dollars with later releases. Keep in mind that the face of college football changed over the last decade-plus, but also gaming has evolved as well. There are so many ways to monetize games for companies online, especially studios as powerful as EA. In 2013, the NCAA didn’t renew EA’s licensing agreement. The argument was mounting about the use of player likeness in video games without being paid. Ultimately, the franchise would enter a dark period. Copies of NCAA Football 14, the final installment of the franchise for years, would go for hundreds of dollars online and that was for used versions. New, unboxed games were much more. Now, the EA Sports College Football game franchise is here to bring the sport back to the video game world. This is because of the Fair Pay to Play Act passing in California, allowing collegiate athletes to make NIL deals while playing. NIL is short for name, image, and likeness, which have been at the forefront of various debates for decades. Even though student-athletes can now sign different deals without fear of repercussions from the NCAA, legal challenges are still ongoing. However, things are a bit more complicated when it comes to student-athletes who are also a part of the military. Whether it's fair or not, remains a debate. You can play as the Black Knights, Midshipmen, or Falcons, but they aren’t getting paid for their NIL.

Military Academies Can’t Opt Into EA Sports College Football NIL Deal

EA Sports College Football news continues to pour out and it’s good for student-athletes looking to make a few bucks. $600 plus a copy of EA Sports College Football 25 is being offered for football players who choose to opt in and allow their NIL. While it’s not exactly generational wealth, it’s more than enough to cover some pizzas, beer runs, and the inevitable parking ticket from the campus police. Plus, you get to be in a video game and receive a copy of said game. This is a win-win for everyone involved—except the military athletes, because, sorry, you can’t have the NIL deal.

EA Sports has finalized its NIL plan and will begin the opt-in process for over 11,000 college football players. Up to 85 players per school will initially appear on rosters in the game.

All athletes who opt in will receive $600, plus a copy of the game. https://t.co/utqwSsXIQH — ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) February 22, 2024

In a cruel twist of fate, the players that are on the football teams for Army, Navy, and Air Force can’t receive NILs or benefit monetarily. The base contract offer may be one of the biggest NILs to date. Players who do other things, like promote the game on social media, can also receive ambassador contracts. EA is already looking into other ways to compensate, for lack of a better word, the student-athletes playing at military academies. This comes as EA expects players from the military to be depicted despite not receiving an NIL. This can be controversial for so many reasons but begs the question: What’s the harm? There are a million ways this can spiral out of control. And, the federal government isn’t worried about NILs as much as it is national defense. Understandable. But surely a few hundred bucks and a copy of EA Sports College Football can garner some type of exception, right? We’ve already seen change over the last several years. Who knows what the future will hold? Read next: Biden’s Law Paves the Way to Raise Military Pay in 2024