NCAA Football 14 News Post

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

03:24 PM - July 17, 2013 by FloorGeneral

The NCAA has decided today, unilaterally it appears, to not renew their license with EA Sports for the NCAA Football video game beginning next year.

In the statement, the NCAA said, "The NCAA has made the decision not to enter a new contract for the license of its name and logo for the EA Sports NCAA Football video game. The current contract expires in June 2014, but our timing is based on the need to provide EA notice for future planning. As a result, the NCAA Football 2014 video game will be the last to include the NCAA�s name and logo. We are confident in our legal position regarding the use of our trademarks in video games. But given the current business climate and costs of litigation, we determined participating in this game is not in the best interests of the NCAA."

EA should still be able to work out individual school, conference, awards, etc. licenses from the CLC -- which should mean the series should be able to live on. At the end of the day, this is the NCAA taking it's name and logo off of the game, but nothing more it appears. So while the series can't be called "NCAA Football" anymore, perhaps with the ESPN license the series can be called "EA Sports College Gameday 15" next season.

The only way this ends the NCAA Football series altogether is if one of two further scenarios happen: 1)If EA Sports decides it is done with the series altogether, which is doubtful given it's a top seller in the US. 2)If the CLC won't play ball with EA Sports, and thus EA has to negotiate licenses individually from member institutions

It is possible EA Sports will not continue development of the game after this year because of either reason, or because of fears of financial fallout from the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit. However, there is no guarantee EA will face huge financial problems from the O'Bannon lawsuit, and in a sense -- the threat of the O'Bannon lawsuit ending the series is the same today as it was yesterday.

I EA wants to they can continue the game with purely cosmetic changes and greater creative freedom without the NCAA hovering above the game. And let's face it, the less the NCAA is involved in anything, the better it will be.

So in a sense, the only thing different today versus yesterday with regards to the NCAA Football series is that it is no longer the NCAA Football series going forward. Everything thing else remains the same.

UPDATE: Brett McMurphy of ESPN is reporting ESPN has been told EA Sports will still have a college football video game beyond 2014, next year's game will be called College Football 15.

UPDATE #2: According to ESPN's Sports Business reporter Darren Rovell the CLC, which handles school, bowl, awards, etc. licensing, says it plans to work with EA in the future despite the NCAA dropping out.

UPDATE #3: EA Sports Executive Vice President Andrew Wilson speaks. In a statement, Wilson said, "EA SPORTS will continue to develop and publish college football games, but we will no longer include the NCAA names and marks. Our relationship with the Collegiate Licensing Company is strong and we are already working on a new game for next generation consoles which will launch next year and feature the college teams, leagues and all the innovation fans expect from EA SPORTS.

We took big creative strides with this year's college game and you�ll see much more in the future. We love college football and look forward to making more games for our fans."

Game: NCAA Football 14Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 54 - View All

NCAA Football 14 Videos

Member Comments

# 301 BrandH @ 07/17/13 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzouBravesFan


	Um I'll wait for EA...anyone can throw a tweet out there with the most generic name for a game and look like a genius if it comes to fruition.

True, but a respected reporter like this guy wouldn't be in the business of throwing things against the wall to see what sticks.

# 302 mestevo @ 07/17/13 05:24 PM

I think that's that unless litigation dictates per-player compensation in some form, and then it becomes a huge question of ROI depending on what that compensation (and any potential damages) looks like. To me this is NCAA getting out from under some potential future damages.

# 303 xxDHAINESxx @ 07/17/13 05:25 PM

If the NCAA is no longer involved, doesn't that mean they will now be allowed to use actual players' names and likenesses in their games? The only reason they couldn't before is it's against NCAA rules, now they are no longer affiliated with each other

# 304 DorianDonP @ 07/17/13 05:25 PM

I wonder if this will give ESPN the incentive to become even more involved with EA. They have shown the desire to be deeply involved with video games before, so much that they partnered with 2K for "ESPN NFL Football 2K5". They don't just want to be featured in the game, they want their brand to be the game.

ESPN has spent billions to secure the rights for the major conferences, the major bowl games, the playoffs. You can't talk about the finances of college football without talking ESPN in the same breath.

With the NCAA out, would ESPN not want to secure the only college football game on the market? Would they not want NCAA Football 15 to be called ESPN College Gameday 15?

I remember watching college gameday on a saturday morning and they showed a NCAA football sim of the two teams that were playing later that afternoon, and Corso, Herbie, and the crew kept talking about how cool it was. They seemed to love integrating the video game into their show.

I realize they are talking heads and not the decision makers, but I can't shake the thought that ESPN isn't salivating at the chance to integrate this series into their brand. Way more than the NCAA ever did.

Could be wishful thinking though.

# 305 moose1234 @ 07/17/13 05:25 PM

Well for the glass is half full crowd out there I hope your right .

# 306 aholbert32 @ 07/17/13 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxDHAINESxx


	If the NCAA is no longer involved, doesn't that mean they will now be allowed to use actual players' names and likenesses in their games? The only reason they couldn't before is it's against NCAA rules, now they are no longer affiliated with each other

No. No entity can license players names and if a player was paid by EA to use his name, they would no longer be considered an amateur and would be deemed ineligible.

# 307 Strategizer @ 07/17/13 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzouBravesFan


	Um I'll wait for EA...anyone can throw a tweet out there with the most generic name for a game and look like a genius if it comes to fruition.

While I understand being skeptical until you hear it from the horse's mouth, I doubt McMurphy is just trying to look smart and doesn't have any basis for the tweet.

# 308 TDenverFan @ 07/17/13 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxDHAINESxx


	If the NCAA is no longer involved, doesn't that mean they will now be allowed to use actual players' names and likenesses in their games? The only reason they couldn't before is it's against NCAA rules, now they are no longer affiliated with each other

No, because if Braxton Miller gets money from EA he'd lose real life eligibility and OSU could be hit with sanctions

# 309 Jr. @ 07/17/13 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLoco11


	To clarify the differences for people who do not quite understand what the NCAA and CLC are: NCAA = Non profit association, funded by universities to keep the rules and integrity of sports across all of college. In other words, the policing agent to monitor ALL sports (not just football) to make sure athletes and schools are following the rules they agree to follow. CLC = The licensing agent of colleges that ALLOWS the use of trademarks and licenses for universities. They control logos, mascots, fight songs, football fields, bowl games, heisman trophies etc. In other words, EA is losing the rules policing association. It's losing the governing body of what constitutes an amateur athlete. BUT, they can still maintain trademarks and licenses with each school, which is what the game needs each year to survive.

Which may ultimately mean, welcome back discipline system, fans storming the field/ripping down goal posts, and other things the NCAA didn't want in the game.

# 310 DorianDonP @ 07/17/13 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	Just posted this in the news story: UPDATE: Brett McMurphy of ESPN is reporting ESPN has been told EA Sports will still have a college football video game beyond 2014, next year's game will be called College Football 15.

Haha and right after I post my little essay, I read this.

# 311 The JareBear @ 07/17/13 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baughn3


	Which may ultimately mean, welcome back discipline system, fans storming the field/ripping down goal posts, and other things the NCAA didn't want in the game.

Yes please!

Would be awesome

# 312 nc0ffey @ 07/17/13 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aholbert32


	No. No entity can license players names and if a player was paid by EA to use his name, they would no longer be considered an amateur and would be deemed ineligible.

Couldn't the players sign some sort of waiver giving them the right to use their name/likeness with out compensation? Not that I care as long as there is a college game and it has plenty of customizable options.

# 313 AKUMA2000 @ 07/17/13 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GisherJohn24


	I think 2K might take it. But not sure. I think a lot of people forget that 2K had Gamebreaker the same time E.A. wsa making NCAA and that failed. Although that was a long time ago. Be interesting to see what happens next year.

Gamebreaker was my game back in the day, hopefully it makes a return next year....now we just have to wait and see how everything turns out.

# 314 aholbert32 @ 07/17/13 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCoffey


	Couldn't the players sign some sort of waiver giving them the right to use their name/likeness with out compensation? Not that I care as long as there is a college game and it has plenty of customizable options.

Possibly but why would they do that?

# 315 BrandH @ 07/17/13 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCoffey


	Couldn't the players sign some sort of waiver giving them the right to use their name/likeness with out compensation? Not that I care as long as there is a college game and it has plenty of customizable options.

They can't use their likeness for anything other than charity whether they are paid or not from what I understand.

# 316 Strings74 @ 07/17/13 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLoco11


	To clarify the differences for people who do not quite understand what the NCAA and CLC are: NCAA = Non profit association, funded by universities to keep the rules and integrity of sports across all of college. In other words, the policing agent to monitor ALL sports (not just football) to make sure athletes and schools are following the rules they agree to follow. CLC = The licensing agent of colleges that ALLOWS the use of trademarks and licenses for universities. They control logos, mascots, fight songs, football fields, bowl games, heisman trophies etc. In other words, EA is losing the rules policing association. It's losing the governing body of what constitutes an amateur athlete. BUT, they can still maintain trademarks and licenses with each school, which is what the game needs each year to survive.

Finally someone gets it. Holy cow guys calm down.

I gotta say though, I really hope 2k jumps in the pool soon.

# 317 Herky @ 07/17/13 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKUMA2000


	Gamebreaker was my game back in the day, hopefully it makes a return next year....now we just have to wait and see how everything turns out.

I loved the Gamebreaker titles as well but 989 Studios did those and they went out of business awhile ago.

# 318 outkaz79 @ 07/17/13 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baughn3


	Which may ultimately mean, welcome back discipline system, fans storming the field/ripping down goal posts, and other things the NCAA didn't want in the game.

^^^THIS!!!!

# 319 tbennett54 @ 07/17/13 05:35 PM

Can EA bring back sanctions and over the top celebrations?

# 320 moose1234 @ 07/17/13 05:36 PM

The one thing I will say if the sec gets there way and starts paying players ,then real names in a game will be right around the corner

« Previous 1 2…13 14 151617 18 19…34 35 Next »

More Links

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