EA Sports is finally returning to college football. The Electronic Arts division announced that it will bring back a college football video game sometime in the future, although no specific date has been announced.
The last college football game made by EA Sports was NCAA Football 2014, which was released in July 2013 and featured then-Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson on the cover. Since then, the game’s production was put on hiatus before the company’s announcement on Tuesday:
For those who never stopped believing… #EASPORTSCollegeFootball pic.twitter.com/ojDl9LzXuj
— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) February 2, 2021
In an interview with ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, EA Sports vice president and general manager Daryl Holt said that fans’ anticipation for the game’s return was a huge factor in their decision to bring back the beloved video game:
“As we look for the momentum that we're building on in sports, it all starts with the passion of our fans and the opportunities of what they are interested in,” Holt told Reothstein. “I don't think a visit where I go outside wearing a piece of EA Sports branded apparel, that someone doesn't go, ‘Hey, when is college football coming back?’”
However, Holt also said that the game will not return this year, and that a specific date remains unclear. Since current NCAA rules do not allow college players to sell their NIL rights while playing for their schools, EA Sports partnered with CLC to secure FBS schools, uniforms, and even playbooks for the college football game. Over 100 teams are expected in the game.
Currently, the company’s plan is to exclude rosters that feature names, images, and likenesses of real players. But one thing that could change that is if college players are allowed to sell their NIL rights, which is something being discussed.
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