Tag: EA Sports

Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Trinidad Chambliss: NCAA eligibility fight cost chance at EA video game cover

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The fight to keep Trinidad Chambliss on the field is now spilling into a very different kind of scoreboard.

In a court filing Thursday made in the Chancery Court of Lafayette County, Miss., the Ole Miss quarterback said the ongoing uncertainty around his NCAA eligibility cost him a chance to land on the cover of EA Sports’ next college football video game.

Chambliss’ attorneys wrote that, as recently as last week, he was one of three finalists — “if not EA Sports’ favored player” — before the company abruptly pulled back.

According to the filing, Chambliss received a text message Monday explaining the decision. EA Sports “just can’t stomach the risk” of him not being available for the Rebels this fall. The filing argues the damage goes beyond any NIL compensation that would have come with the cover, highlighting the visibility and branding boost that comes from being the face of a flagship game.

“In addition to the NIL compensation which Trinidad would have received for being featured on the cover, Trinidad would have enjoyed heightened notoriety and prestige since the cover shot is considered an honor in college football and in the gaming community,” said Thursday’s filing. “Appearing on the cover would have created organic publicity for Trinidad, enhancing both his marketability and publicity rights.

Being on the cover would have been personally meaningful to Trinidad, who could have shown his cover photo to potential employers and even his children and grandchildren.”

The timing is tied directly to his legal battle. A Mississippi judge granted Chambliss a sixth year of eligibility last month, but the NCAA has asked the state’s supreme court to review that ruling, leaving his status in limbo. Chambliss is now seeking to amend his complaint, arguing that the NCAA’s continued opposition and the uncertainty it creates directly impacted his marketability.

Chambliss starred for Ole Miss last season, passing for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions. He added another 527 yards and eight scores on the ground, leading Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff before ultimately falling to Miami in the semifinal.

For Chambliss, it’s a reminder that eligibility disputes not only threaten Saturdays but also impact the business opportunities that now shape college football’s top level. Until the NCAA appeal is resolved, every potential deal comes with an asterisk, and his filing essentially argues that the NCAA isn’t just disputing his roster spot, it’s shrinking the market around him in real time.

–Field Level Media

Jul 24, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) looks on during training camp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Eagles’ Saquon Barkley, Lane Johnson lead Madden ’99 Club’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cover star Saquon Barkley and Philadelphia Eagles teammate Lane Johnson lead the seven players who received 99 ratings for the “Madden NFL 26” video game, EA Sports announced Tuesday.

Joining the Super Bowl LIX champion running back and right tackle in the prestigious “99 Club” are reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and fellow quarterback Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals and Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, and defensive end Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.

The selections marked a changing of the guard, as none of the seven members received 99 ratings in the “Madden NFL 25” edition.

Jefferson previously made the cut in 2024, as did Garrett in 2023. Allen (2024) and Jackson (2021) previously were featured on the Madden cover.

–Field Level Media

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates following the 41-21 win over the Oregon Ducks in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025.

Star wideouts snag cover of EA Sports College Football 26

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Coming off outstanding freshman seasons, wide receivers Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State and Ryan Williams of Alabama will grace the standard edition cover of the EA Sports College Football 26 video game.

It marks the first time in the video game franchise’s history that the cover will feature a pair of wideouts. The game will be released on July 10.

A major piece of the Buckeyes’ run to the national title, Smith — the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class — caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in 16 games in 2024.

“Being on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26 is a tremendous privilege, and I’m proud to represent Ohio State alongside Coach (Ryan) Day while carrying the Buckeye legacy forward, celebrating the passion of our fans and the tradition of this incredible program,” Smith said in a statement.

Williams finished with 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games for the Crimson Tide. He also rushed for two scores.

“I know y’all think I’m young, but growing up, the oldest one I remember is the one with Mark Ingram,” Williams told On3. “From there to 2014, just playing those games — if I could ever be on the cover, it would mean the world to me. Just thinking back to little Ryan, that’s what they called me back home. If he got to see what was going on right now, I could only imagine how excited he would be. It’s a blessing. It’s super exciting.”

Along with the standard edition cover, a deluxe cover featuring coaches, current players and former stars will be released. Ohio State’s Day, Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman are among the coaches featured and will also be in the game. Former stars Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush and Denard Robinson will also be on the deluxe cover.

First released in 1998, the original EA college football video game franchise ran until 2013 before returning last season. Last year’s edition racked up more than $400 million in sales.

–Field Level Media

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe reacts as he plays the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game with young people at the McDonald Hughes Center in Tuscaloosa. Milroe is one of the players featured on the game’s cover.

Reports: EA Sports increases player payments for College Football 26

Posted on | by Field Level Media

College football players are reportedly getting a raise for appearing in EA Sports’ next video game.

The name, image and likeness payments will increase from $600 to $1,500 for Football Bowl Subdivision players who are included in the upcoming “College Football 26” release, per multiple reports.

Players will also receive a Deluxe Edition of the game, and some will earn additional revenue for appearing in any promotional materials.

More than 14,000 players across the country opted into “College Football 25” and ultimately nearly 11,000 were used in the game, or about 85 players per team, according to The Athletic. The game went on to become one of the best-selling sports video games of all time.

The higher payments mean that EA Sports will spend more than $16.5 million for the NIL rights of the players.

The licensing company OneTeam Partners, which facilitated the players’ deal, told Front Office Sports that it is continuing to negotiate for the possibility of additional royalties.

–Field Level Media

EA Sports' College Football 25 has set an all-time record for sports video game titles in the United States.

EA Sports’ College Football 25 sets all-time sales record

Posted on | by Field Level Media

EA Sports’ reboot of its college football franchise has proven wildly successful, setting the mark as the best-selling sports game ever released in the United States market.

That’s according to Circana video game sales data from November, with College Football 25 eclipsing the previous record set by 2K Sports’ NBA 2K21. It has also entered the top 50 for best-selling tracked video games of all time, and so far is the best-selling game of 2024 across genres ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

After an 11-year hiatus, the game returned with a July 19 launch for PlayStation 5 and Xbox One. In the NIL era, the game now includes players’ names and numbers.

EA Sports sent out offers to more than 14,000 players on FBS teams. Each player who opted in received a one-time payment of $600 along with a copy of the game.

“EA Sports College Football 25 was a highly anticipated title prior to launch, but just how big it would be was the question. Once initial sales rolled in, it was clear that it had a shot at becoming the No. 1 seller, then the question became when it would overtake,” Circana executive director/video games Mat Piscatella told the Sports Business Journal. “I thought it had a shot at doing that in October, but it didn’t quite get there until (November).”

–Field Level Media

Jul 21, 2019; Miami Beach, FL, USA; A general view of gaming controllers on display during the Call of Duty League Finals e-sports event at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

EA Sports to bring back college football video game

Posted on | by Field Level Media

EA Sports is bringing college football back to video game consoles.

The company on Tuesday introduced EA Sports College Football, the successor to its NCAA Football, last produced in 2013.

While the company’s social media post didn’t provide any detail about the pending game, Daryl Holt, EA Sports vice president and general manager, told ESPN the time was right.

“It all starts with the passion of our fans and the opportunities of what they are interested in,” Holt said. “I don’t think there’s 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?’”

Holt said the new version of the game will include more than 100 teams. EA Sports is pairing with CLC, the collegiate licensing company, to get the rights to publish the teams’ uniforms and such.

“We want to make sure we deliver what our college football game players would want in a game,” Holt said. “And that starts with just a very immersive experience, and there’s lots of things we can do to bring the true college game play and game day to the virtual world.”

The release date has not been set. It will be geared toward next generation platforms such as the Sony PlayStation5 and the Xbox Series X.

EA Sports hasn’t published a college football game since NCAA Football 2014. On the cover of that release was Denard Robinson, the Michigan quarterback at the time.

–Field Level Media

Antonio Brown Announced as Madden 19 Cover Athlete

Posted on | by Mitch Reames

EA announced today that Antonio Brown will be the cover athlete for next year’s Madden, set to release in August. The cover of the game is highly coveted by NFL players, requiring both skill and widespread fan recognition. It has been a super-superstar every single year, except 2012 when EA allowed the internet to vote and ended up with Browns RB Peyton Hillis. 

“I am beyond honored to be on the cover of both Madden games,” said Brown in a press release. “There’s a lot of milestones athletes dream of… appearing on the cover of this year’s games, it’s clear that business is not just booming, but I’m also among the all-time greatest with these honors.”

The list of past cover athletes includes Ray Lewis, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Barry Sanders, and Brett Favre. It’s effectively a list of some of the top players throughout history. 

Brown is the fourth wide receiver to be honored after Larry Fitzgerald in 2010, Calvin Johnson in 2013 and Odell Beckham Jr. in 2016. Since Eddie George became the first player on the cover, after they ran out of good images of Madden himself, there have been seven QBs, five RBs, four WRs and three defensive players. 

“AB has taken the league by storm the past few years and is arguably one of the best wide receivers to ever play in the NFL,” said Joshua Rabenovets, Sr. Brand Director at EA SPORTS in a press release. “His game is hot, he’s got a ton of personality on and off the field – he was an easy choice for the Madden NFL 19 cover.”

One thing possibly on Brown’s mind could be the Madden cover curse. It’s a funny topic and likely entirely coincidental but a large percentage of the players who have graced the cover have had serious injuries in the following two years. Recently Richard Sherman (Madden 2015, injured 2017) Odell Beckham (Madden 2016, injured 2017) and Rob Gronkowski (Madden 2017, injured 2017) have all fallen victim to the curse. Maybe 2017 was just a bad year in general though. Hopefully Brown doesn’t fall victim to the curse because there is no doubt he is one of the most electric players in the NFL.