EA's "NCAA Football" Unlikely To Return Even With NIL Rights

It is unlikely that EA Sports' "NCAA Football" video game franchise will return "even if the NCAA allows college athletes to profit off their names, images and likenesses" as soon as next year, according to Dan Bernstein of SPORTING NEWS. A working group of college ADs and conference officials suggested NIL rules to the NCAA BOG yesterday, but the recommendations "reportedly include language that would prevent EA Sports or any other developer from producing a college football game." Athletes would "not be able to reference the school they attend in any endorsement or sponsorship under the proposal," which would effectively end "any chance of 'NCAA Football' being released in the future." INFLCR Founder & CEO Jim Cavale said, "Right now, group licensing is not a part of the plan. That would prevent the video game concept from coming back." EA Sports last released the game in '13 (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 4/28).