EA Sports to Use Pay-for-Play Incentives for College Teams
EA Sports to Use Pay-for-Play Incentives for College Teams originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
If you're tired of watching your favorite college team struggle financially in the NIL era, here's your chance to help by simply picking them in College Football 26.
Advertisement
EA Sports is rewriting the NIL playbook. For the first time ever, schools will be paid based on how often they're used in the game. Gone are the static royalty tiers. Now, fan engagement equals real revenue.
Here's how it works: Every time someone plays a game with their favorite FBS team, it counts toward that school's share of the royalty pool. The more your squad is played, the more money your university makes.
'This percentage of games played will become the final allocation percentage for each school that will be applied to the total gross royalties,' one FOIA document reads.
Take a hypothetical $5 million royalty pool. If 1% of College Football 26 games are played using Colorado, that's a $50,000 payout to the Buffaloes, just for being popular.
Advertisement
This pivot marks a huge departure from the 2024 model, which paid schools based on their finishes in the AP Top 25 over the last decade. Under that system, elite Tier 1 schools earned close to $100,000. Tier 4 schools? Just $9,987.
Now, even underdog programs like Akron or Coastal Carolina can cash in if fans show up for them in-game. With more than 1.7 billion streams of College Football 25, the potential is massive.
And schools aren't the only winners. Players who appeared in last year's edition earned $600. This year? Up to $3,000 per athlete, thanks to dual deals from EA and Pathway Sports. While players don't get royalties based on gameplay, schools do, which could loop back into NIL funds for star players.
In College Football 26, fans directly shape the NIL landscape. Every pick matters. Every game counts. And for once, your favorite team's financial future might be in your hands, literally, on the sticks.
Advertisement
Related: Michigan Running Back's Groundbreaking NIL Deal Redefines College Football
Related: Kentucky Basketball Beats Cap Proposal With NIL Power Play
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Angel Reese Gives Nickname to Coco Gauff After Chicago Sky's Blowout Loss
Angel Reese Gives Nickname to Coco Gauff After Chicago Sky's Blowout Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky may have taken a hard hit on the scoreboard Tuesday night, but forward Angel Reese still found a way to shine. Advertisement After the Sky's 85-66 loss to the undefeated New York Liberty, Reese shared a heartfelt moment with tennis star Coco Gauff. Gauff, fresh off winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, was sitting courtside at the Barclays Center. She was seen enjoying the game with Vanessa Bryant and her daughters, making it a special night for sports fans. During a timeout, cameras zoomed in on Gauff and the crowd erupted with cheers. She was also greeted by Ellie the Elephant, the Liberty's mascot, and visited the Liberty locker room after the game. But the real crossover moment happened after the final buzzer. Reese posted a video on Instagram Story showing her meeting with Gauff. 'The QUEEN,' Reese added a caption, tagging Gauff directly. Advertisement Despite the tough loss, Reese appeared unfazed. In fact, she seemed more excited to meet Gauff than discouraged by the outcome of the game. Her warm gesture came shortly after the tennis champion was honored with loud cheers by Liberty fans. Meanwhile, Reese recorded her 30th career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, making her the fastest player in WNBA history to reach that mark. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese in the first quarter against the New York Liberty at Barclays Cruz-Imagn Images On the other hand, Gauff had earned her spotlight just days earlier by beating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Roland-Garros. At only 21 years old, she became the youngest American woman since Serena Williams in 2002 to win the French Open. Advertisement It was her second Grand Slam title after winning the 2023 US Open. Following the match, fans gave her a new nickname: 'Queen of Clay.' Now, Reese has added her own spin to that crown. The Chicago Sky will try to bounce back on Friday when they face the Atlanta Dream. But even in defeat, Angel Reese made headlines not just for her stats, but for her shoutout to a fellow queen in sports. Related: Liberty Reacts to Coco Gauff's Appearance at Chicago Sky Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
40 minutes ago
- Washington Post
What to know about the 2026 World Cup one year out
The World Cup kicks off one year from now and will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The 23rd edition of soccer's most prestigious tournament, which has been running since 1930, will be the biggest yet with 48 teams taking part. Here's what to know about the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark's Favorite Animal is Turning Heads
Caitlin Clark's Favorite Animal is Turning Heads originally appeared on Athlon Sports. WNBA star Caitlin Clark remains out for the Indiana Fever due to her left quad strain. She's set to be re-evaluated this weekend, though that means she won't be available to play on Saturday against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. Advertisement Clark was averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game for the Fever prior to her injury. Naturally, her absence has been a big blow to Indiana, which has won just one of the three games it has played without her. Despite her absence, though, Clark continues to make headlines as she stays involved with the Fever — attending practices, joining her teammates on the sidelines and being active on social media. On Friday, Clark had fans buzzing after the Fever posted a "Get To Know" post about her, which revealed her favorite actor, movie, condiment and even emoji, as well as a skill she would like to learn. One response that stood out, however, was her favorite animal. The WNBA All-Star answered "Cheetah," which quickly caught the attention of many. Advertisement It's worth noting that Clark has said in the past that she doesn't like cats. So, for her to choose not only a large cat but also the fastest land animal came as a surprise. "Scared of cats but likes cheetahs," a commenter wrote. Another one said, Afraid of cats, but loves cheetahs. Fascinating." "So who is gonna tell her that Cheetah is a cat," a fan added. For what it's worth, others connected her love for cheetahs to her love for running and sprinting. "Of course it's a cheetah. 'I love sprinting,'" a follower remarked. A fifth supporter shared, "Cheetah: 'I just love to sprint. I sprint everywhere.'" Advertisement "Cheetahs are the best. Hawks are a close second. Some Hawks can reach 240 mph when they dive," a social media user stated. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during a game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images It's still unknown when Clark will actually return from her injury, but at least fans are getting to know her better while she's sidelined. Related: Caitlin Clark Left in Disbelief After Pacers' Game 1 Comeback Against Thunder This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
