EA Sports reportedly offers Colorado players $600 each for video game NIL rights

Buffs will have the option to opt-in or hold out for the potential of more money

CU Buffs

The return of EA Sports 2025 College Football will come with a cost. We knew there was likely going to be a payout coming for player's name, image, and likeness rights in the upcoming release, but we're getting a good scope of the damage.

According to Jason Wilson of Sports Business Journal, EA has set aside $6.6 million to pay 11,000 college football players a lump sum of $600 each. The players who decided to opt-in will become an "ambassador" and receive a free copy of the mastered product later this year. Sources tell BuffsBeat some Colorado players have already been offered by EA Sports.

Last year, the College Football Players Association urged players to reject a lesser offer from the video game maker. While the release will spark up nostalgia among the masses, this is one of the hurdles needed to be cleared for an accurate product. If there was a governing body representing the player, it would be a streamlined process. However, with individuals or different agents making the call, this could be months before we have a clear picture of who will be added officially.

“All current players should boycott this deal,” CFBPA vice president Justin Falcinell told NBC Sports June 2023. "A current NFL player told us that he got a check for $28,000 this year for Madden. ... You should not participate in this. It is a simple cash grab to just try to get you for the lowest amount possible.”

EA Sports reported a net revenue of $7.42 billion for the 2023 fiscal year. They also had $1.5 billion cash-on-hand, according to the yearly revenue report. Both figures are expected to skyrocket with the addition of 2025 College Football to the lineup.