If you haven't heard, EA Sports is getting back into the college football video game landscape with College Football 25, but there have been some intriguing opt-outs for the game, including Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning and, most recently, the National College Football Awards Association.
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NEWS: The National College Football Awards Association has opted out of EA Sports College Football 25, @PeteNakos_ reports.
Top awards like the Biletnikoff and Maxwell will NOT be featured in the game...https://t.co/5ZP4gzKC8P pic.twitter.com/fMpzCB7A7s
— On3 (@On3sports) March 8, 2024
With this game, EA Sports is offering athletes $600 and a copy of the game in exchange for their name, image, and likeness. So far, over 10,000 players have opted into the game.
However, the NCFAA has declined to be part of the project, per Mark Wolpert of On3.
"The offer that has been made is not adequate for the rights fee for the awards," Wolpert said.
So, when players play the game, they'll be unable to win awards like the Biletnikoff and Maxwell as they won't be featured.
Fans on X responded to the report.
Then we no longer care about the Maxwell or Biletnikoff.
— Astro Smokey (@AstroSmokeyX) March 8, 2024
"Then we no longer care about the Maxwell or Biletnikoff," one user wrote.
Don't care, I'll take the "WR of the year" award the same. EA should add sponsors to the awards now. Audi RB of the year award doesn't sound bad.
— Trojan Lan (@Im_LanMan) March 8, 2024
"Don't care, I'll take the "WR of the year" award the same. EA should add sponsors to the awards now. Audi RB of the year award doesn't sound bad," another user wrote.
Personally, I don't care. They can give my players the Bubble Yum fruit snack award for top QB's and I'm going to celebrate it the same. Just give me the game. I don't care who or what Opts In
— Inkstarzz (@inkstarzz) March 8, 2024
"Personally, I don't care. They can give my players the Bubble Yum fruit snack award for top QB's and I'm going to celebrate it the same. Just give me the game. I don't care who or what Opts In," someone else wrote.
The players…. The only reason these awards are relevant all opted in to game or atleast 90%. Association is all garbage.
— J. Legz 🍢 (@jlegz02) March 8, 2024
"The players.... The only reason these awards are relevant all opted in to game or atleast 90%. Association is all garbage," one fan said.
This lowkey sucks but it’s not like they can’t just have “best reciever", "best linebacker", etc type of awards
— RTR Nation (@_RTR_Nation) March 8, 2024
"This lowkey sucks but it's not like they can't just have "best [receiver]", "best linebacker", etc type of awards," one fan wrote.
A full reveal for the game is scheduled for May, and it's expected to be released in July. When released, we'll see how the NCFAA and other opt-outs impact the user experience.