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(PHOTO: Greg M. Cooper - USA TODAY Sports) On Tuesday, college football fans around the country were treated to a surprise announcement from EA Sports that their college football video game franchise will be making a return to all next generation gaming consoles.
For those who never stopped believing…#EASPORTSCollegeFootball pic.twitter.com/2vDUYnbXEJ
— EA SPORTS (@EASPORTS) February 2, 2021
The video game series was originally shelved by EA Sports following the 2013 season due to a lawsuit brought forward by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon.
Bannon’s lawsuit argued that it was illegal for EA Sports to sell a game with characters that looked strikingly similar to real college athletes without paying any of them.
EA Sports later agreed to pay part of a reported $40 million to former college players to settle with O’Bannon.
According to a recent ESPN report, “EA Sports is planning to move forward without rosters that include the names, images or likenesses of real college players. Current NCAA rules prohibit athletes from selling their NIL rights while in college.”
EA Sports doesn’t expect the game to be complete for 2-3 years, but Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman couldn’t contain his excitement for the return.
Edelman tweeted out the following photoshopped image of his Kent State self placed over a cover of the game.
Who’s back of the week @PardonMyTake pic.twitter.com/rSSePUc1er
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) February 2, 2021
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