EA Sports Settling Case, Shutting Down "NCAA Football" For A Year

EA Sports yesterday said it is shutting down production of its NCAA Football video game franchise for at least a year, while also settling in the ongoing Keller/O'Bannon likeness case in which it was a defendant along with CLC. EA Sports execs said the continued legal pressure – as well as the loss of licenses earlier this year with the NCAA and several key conferences including the SEC, Big 10 and Pac 12 – made continuing production of the game untenable. Terms of the legal settlement remain under seal until presented to the court for approval. The NCAA itself is now the sole defendant in the case.

A source familiar with the settlement said EA's decision to cancel the game was not a direct part of the settlement terms. However, tens of thousands of former college football players could be set to receive compensation as a result of the deal.