The Notre Dame football program will not commit to being in the new EA Sports college football game.
Athletic director Jack Swarbrick said in a statement the Fighting Irish will not supply the developers with the school name or logo until the NCAA's new name, image and likeness (NIL) rules are finalized:
“As those rules are developed, it is our strong desire that student-athletes be allowed to benefit directly from allowing their name, image and performance history to be used in the game,” Swarbrick said, per ESPN's Dan Murphy.
The NCAA is progressing toward new rules allowing student-athletes to profit from sponsorships. However, as Murphy noted, obtaining revenue from a video game could be more difficult.
Murphy suggested group licensing might be the best way to ensure all student-athletes are compensated for their likenesses, though it is unknown whether those deals will be part of the NIL rules.
It is unknown when EA Sports hopes to release the game, though general manager Daryl Holt said the company is keeping an eye on the workings of new NIL rules:
General manager Daryl Holt told ESPN that the game-makers are prepared to move forward without using the names or images of players in the game but that they are closely tracking the proposed changes and would consider including the players if new rules allow for it. The company has not yet said exactly when the game will be back on shelves, only that it won't be ready this year.
Notre Dame might not be the only school to show some hesitance in participating as NIL rules are finalized. But the Fighting Irish (and others) will also likely have the option to opt back in considering there is no current release date planned.
Follow Us
Subscribe