EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timeline

[ChaseB]

We originally set out to explain what was going on with EA Sports College Football with...

Written By: Chase Becotte

Click here to view the article.

[canes21]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

The NIL decision will be the domino that puts everything in motion. I still hold belief we will see a bill pass that allows group licensing and thus we'll get real players and all FBS schools, but it isn't guaranteed.

I may be wrong, but if there is no union to represent all FBS players, EA would still have the ability to essentially contact each school's football program and basically say we are offering X compensation for any players that want to be in the game. Then the program communicates that with their players, then they collect who all signed on to be included and relays the info back to EA.

I would assume even if the compensation is a free copy of the game and some EA merchandise that the vast majority of FBS players would be happy to just be in the game and would sign on. Most of these guys always wanted to be in the game and didnt care about getting paid. Whatever EA offers will just be the icing on top for most.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[ChaseB]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

The NIL decision will be the domino that puts everything in motion. I still hold belief we will see a bill pass that allows group licensing and thus we'll get real players and all FBS schools, but it isn't guaranteed.

I may be wrong, but if there is no union to represent all FBS players, EA would still have the ability to essentially contact each school's football program and basically say we are offering X compensation for any players that want to be in the game. Then the program communicates that with their players, then they collect who all signed on to be included and relays the info back to EA.

I would assume even if the compensation is a free copy of the game and some EA merchandise that the vast majority of FBS players would be happy to just be in the game and would sign on. Most of these guys always wanted to be in the game and didnt care about getting paid. Whatever EA offers will just be the icing on top for most.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

I'm not sure if the ADs would have that sort of power/legal control, or the universities would potentially feel comfortable with it without some very real consistency to the NIL laws. So I agree the NIL stuff is the major component, but there's still a lot of different ways those could come together, which makes it tricky to game out what the next step would be.

[canes21]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

I'm not sure if the ADs would have that sort of power/legal control, or the universities would potentially feel comfortable with it without some very real consistency to the NIL laws. So I agree the NIL stuff is the major component, but there's still a lot of different ways those could come together, which makes it tricky to game out what the next step would be.

It would probably be a bit more complex than my post made it out, but I believe EA would have the ability to do something similar to that. Obviously lawyers and what not are going to be needed there and it won't be as simple as EA faxing over 85 documents that the coach hands out and then signs the faxed copies back over. I wish it could be that simple.

I do believe they would have an option along those lines available to them. It would be somewhat skirting around the group licensing stuff since they aren't technically negotiating with every player individually, but it isn't a situation where the players are forming a union or anything like that either.

Hopefully we do not have to brainstorm a bunch of what if scenarios up and a bill is passed this summer allowing for group licensing. That will immediately clear up a lot surround this game/series and should be extremely beneficial for EA and us consumers.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[tril]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

this is probably the best article ever written and posted on Operation Sports.

Great information. It would be great to have more in-depth articles like this for us older folks who grew up with OS.

With that said,

my take is that this is far from being resolved. Once these legalities are finalized, the next phase will be how to divvy the pot so to speak.

College sports is big business. Not even considering a potential union aspect, these schools will definitely want their fair value, and this will most definitely affect recruiting. Recruiting pitches will involve a monetary component for said player.

again this is far from being resolved.

The best we could hope for is a college game with real schools and no player likeliness. My take is that the player likeliness issue will never get resolved.

[Cam Fan]

UCF, UF, FSU and Miami sittin pretty.

[bigbob]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

I know it is not that simple, and I have seen it thrown around before, but I think once this NIL stuff gets passed, all you need to do is say "You'll get a copy of EA College Football for free." and it is game on.

Sent from my Note 20 Ultra using Operation Sports mobile app

[illwill10]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

"College recruiting is on the brink of chaos.

States are jockeying to “one-up” each other in adopting NIL laws. Soon, universities in a dozen states could be violating NCAA law by operating under state law.

“We're approaching the tipping point.”

https://t.co/tPXR1fJ63F https://t.co/74u6ad2nYx ...

Some state NIL bills (ie Alabama) feature a pay-for-play system, where Tide athletes could get $10K/yr from the school.

Meanwhile, in Ohio, home to Ohio St, no NIL bill exists.

And in New York, an NIL bill would take effect immediately.

“It’s a mess.”

https://t.co/tPXR1fJ63F "

I think a national NIL bill(that includes group licensing) would help resolve a lot of issues. There NEEDS to be a national NIL bill. You can't have a situation like above where you have states trying to one-up each other and having different NIL bills. That's a recipe for disaster. So, I imagine they'll try to pass a national bill within a couple months.

[Cam Fan]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

"College recruiting is on the brink of chaos.

States are jockeying to “one-up” each other in adopting NIL laws. Soon, universities in a dozen states could be violating NCAA law by operating under state law.

“We're approaching the tipping point.”

https://t.co/tPXR1fJ63F https://t.co/74u6ad2nYx ...

Some state NIL bills (ie Alabama) feature a pay-for-play system, where Tide athletes could get $10K/yr from the school.

Meanwhile, in Ohio, home to Ohio St, no NIL bill exists.

And in New York, an NIL bill would take effect immediately.

“It’s a mess.”

https://t.co/tPXR1fJ63F "

I think a national NIL bill(that includes group licensing) would help resolve a lot of issues. There NEEDS to be a national NIL bill. You can't have a situation like above where you have states trying to one-up each other and having different NIL bills. That's a recipe for disaster. So, I imagine they'll try to pass a national bill within a couple months.

yes...and the NCAA has no one else to blame. They've had a decade long head start to address this... and purposely kicked the can down the road. Well, we all know CFB is all about finding recruiting advantages, and the Florida schools are in the driver seat.


"And what if a university in Florida were to follow the NCAA’s legislation instead of Florida’s own law? According to the legislation, that school would lose all financial support from the state."

"Berry’s concern lies with boosters. Many state NIL bills don’t bar them from involvement with NIL payments. Some of the bills don’t even address boosters at all. You can’t control the boosters,” Berry says. “When you give them openings, based on my experiences, they become uncontrollable.”

Also found another great article here.
Get your popcorn ready...this is going to be fun.

[ChaseB]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

this is probably the best article ever written and posted on Operation Sports.

Great information. It would be great to have more in-depth articles like this for us older folks who grew up with OS.

With that said,

my take is that this is far from being resolved. Once these legalities are finalized, the next phase will be how to divvy the pot so to speak.

College sports is big business. Not even considering a potential union aspect, these schools will definitely want their fair value, and this will most definitely affect recruiting. Recruiting pitches will involve a monetary component for said player.

again this is far from being resolved.

The best we could hope for is a college game with real schools and no player likeliness. My take is that the player likeliness issue will never get resolved.

Thanks for the kind words, we really tried to take our time with both of these FAQs so they could act as hubs to check back on for now while we wait for actual concrete information at some point late this year/early next.

[Cam Fan]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

Thanks for the kind words, we really tried to take our time with both of these FAQs so they could act as hubs to check back on for now while we wait for actual concrete information at some point late this year/early next.

Chase you're the best!

[milkmanbonzai]

What a thought-out, articulate, informative article, Chase, this is awesome

[Hadergoorm99]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

just let me know!

[jfsolo]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

I know it is not that simple, and I have seen it thrown around before, but I think once this NIL stuff gets passed, all you need to do is say "You'll get a copy of EA College Football for free." and it is game on.

Sent from my Note 20 Ultra using Operation Sports mobile app

Maybe that might have been true 10 years ago, but IMO folks are going to want some cash in hand.

[Caulfield]

Re: EA Sports College Football Legal FAQ: Answering Questions and Detailing the Timel

College recruiting is on the brink of chaos...

States are jockeying to “one-up” each other in adopting NIL laws. Soon, universities in a dozen states could be violating NCAA law by operating under state law...

“It’s a mess.”...

There NEEDS to be a national NIL bill. You can't have a situation like above where you have states trying to one-up each other and having different NIL bills.
That's a recipe for disaster.

and so I'm under the opinion that's what we'll get.
the rich'll get richer and the Have-Nots will still not have.