EA Sports Increases NIL Payments for College Football 26

EA Sports is set to more than double the payment for college athletes appearing in the upcoming College Football 26 video game, offering $1,500 compared to last year's $600. Players will also receive a Deluxe Edition of the game as a part of their compensation. This decision comes after the massive success of College Football 25, which became the highest-selling sports video game in US history. The move reflects EA's commitment to player compensation through its NIL program, which is designed to be direct, equitable, and voluntary, allowing athletes to opt-in via the OneTeam platform. Furthermore, EA plans to spend over $16.5 million for NIL rights, marking the largest single-sport NIL deal ever. Some players will also receive additional compensation as brand ambassadors, and negotiations for potential royalty-based payments are ongoing.