The upcoming iteration of EA Sports College Football is now one of the most highly-anticipated video games on the back of the announcement revealing its return.
However, the game could be without NCAA football’s biggest star as Caleb Williams is not sure he will allow the publishers usage of his likeness.
Speaking to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the quarterback expressed excitement over the return of the popular title. On the flip side, he has been put off by the $500 flat rate EA Sports will be paying athletes.
The USC standout argues that players should be compensated based on their performances and star power.
“I’d love to have the game back, but it’s the new day and age and everybody knows what the new day and age in college is,” he said.
“It’s like if you go to school and you are a straight-A student and there’s another kid whose strong suit isn’t school and he gets B’s or B-minuses. How fair would it be if you get the same grade as him? That never works in school and it doesn’t make sense. That’s how I look at that game with the situation with the $500.”
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Williams is the reigning Heisman Trophy holder after passing for 52 touchdowns last season. He is projected to be the No. 1 overall draft pick next year, though he claims he’s unsure of entering.
He also has the second-highest NIL value behind Arch Manning and would be in a position to be paid a lot more than the average player should he go into negotiations with EA.
“It depends on your situation and who you are and what you have actually earned,” he pointed out. “I’m not talking about money earned… I’m talking about all the hard work you’ve put in.”
EA Sports has come under lots of criticism because of its player compensation scheme, with the College Football Players Association urging them to boycott the game unless EA changes its plan.
Should Williams opt out, it would come as a major blow.
