EA is developing EA College Football 26, slated for release this summer, but emerging sports representative Pathway Sports & Entertainment is raising the stakes. Pathway has signed over 450 college players with a $1,500 upfront offer for their name, image, and likeness rights and possible royalties. With aspirations to recruit nearly all NCAA scholarship athletes, this could cost EA significantly if they rely on these players for the game. As Pathway aims for higher payments, EA will need to adapt its compensation strategy to secure its talent.
"The overall vision is for athletes to make more money than we saw in the first year of the video game," said Pathway co-founder Casey Schwab in a statement.
Pathway is making aggressive inroads by pursuing the elite players in college football, offering $1,500 for their NIL rights and exploring royalty payments.
Over 450 students at Alabama, Illinois, Georgia, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, and Oregon have already taken the deal, with ambitions to sign every scholarship football player.
EA might have to adjust their payment structure for college athletes in EA College Football 26 if Pathway successfully signs the key players they want.
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