NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

[Reed1417]

This is kind of a surprise to me. But not really at the same time given what's going on with the O'Bannon case. However we will have to wait and see what happens as far as the video game goes.

[woodjer]

Regarding the game: It will be there next year. The schools, conferences, etc. have always licensed their own logos. EA has already done this for years so it's not something new. Those that think big name schools are going to hold out for more money are entitled to that thought. Honestly, I suspect that they get a LOT more from the sale of jerseys, shirts, hats, tickets, and concessions than they do on the sale of a video game. aholbert (and others, I believe) have already pointed this out.

Regarding the "EA forum" post: As others have said, let's wait until someone with credibility says this. I find it odd that the NCAA announced this today and EA has already held all of the necessary meetings with their legal department, AR & AP departments, design teams, etc. to make a decision. Besides, why bother with a Dec. 1 end date at all? In general, if you're going to be let go, businesses don't typically give you a week's notice, let alone 4+ months. That would just be an invitation to steal the code and sell it to the highest bidder.

[Steve_OS]

FYI.

The OP has been updated w/ more information. Read it before responding.

Nobody from the NCAA Football team is getting the ax in December. C'mon man.

[K0ZZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by cletus42o

If it's so easy for them to continue the series WITHOUT NCAA, then why the hell didn't they get rid of them years ago so they could do whatever they wanted? If it was unnecessary to begin with, I can't imagine EA would have wanted the contract themselves..

Because when you're in a contract you can't just randomly opt out, I'm sure there's fines associated with not using the license they are contracted to use. I know that EA got hit with a fine for not putting out a NBA game while holding the license.

Legitimately, this could be the end of NCAA football or just a rebranding, and I'm hoping towards the later. Madden gets too stale for me, way too fast. Like others have said, it comes down to what side the CLC falls on the matter.

[Bigsheen]

Quote: Originally Posted by cletus42o

If it's so easy for them to continue the series WITHOUT NCAA, then why the hell didn't they get rid of them years ago so they could do whatever they wanted? If it was unnecessary to begin with, I can't imagine EA would have wanted the contract themselves..

Because its a game based on the NCAA. They are obviously going to want to have the name on the product for money purposes.

[nortobc]

Quote: Originally Posted by NDAlum

To me this screams of "EA is going to lose that lawsuit" and we are out! No more college games makes me sad

The law suit is against NCAA not EA. OBannon is pissed because NCAA didn't share the profits from selling "the players image". The players have no basis to sue EA IMHO.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

[Dogslax41]

Those using the CLC as a security blanket as comfort that the game is not going anywhere better start pulling for O'Bannon's team to win this lawsuit. Those thinking the CLC can do what it wants with the licenses better remember who makes the rules for college football and who decides who is/is not eligible to compete in intercollegiate football.

[K0ZZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dogslax41

Those using the CLC as a security blanket as comfort that the game is not going anywhere better start pulling for O'Bannon's team to win this lawsuit. Those thinking the CLC can do what it wants with the licenses better remember who makes the rules for college football and who decides who is/is not eligible to compete in intercollegiate football.

If NCAA tried coercion like that, I'm sure that would cause more problems than benefits.