The NCPA played a central role in securing college athletes’ NIL freedoms, which lead to the freedom for college football players to receive pay for appearing in EA's College Football '25 video game.
This week marks the first time in history that college football players are included and paid in EA Sports’ College Football video game!
University of Washington football player and NCPA leader Dyson McCutcheon stated, “It’s exciting for me, my teammates, and my friends from other schools to be in the game and get paid. I’ve been playing this game all week. I know lot of people before me fought for this and I’m grateful. It’s important for current college athletes to help make things better for future college athletes, which is why I joined the NCPA.”
The NCPA played a central role in securing college athletes’ NIL freedoms, which lead to the freedom for college football players to receive pay for appearing in the game.
2009: Recruited plaintiffs for the 2009 O’Bannon v NCAA NIL lawsuit.
2014: Arranged the injunctive relief portion of the Alston v NCAA antitrust lawsuit where the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in athletes’ favor.
2019: Co-sponsored the first college athlete NIL state law in 2019 and supported the passage of 11 other state NIL laws.
2020-21: Successfully fought against congressional lobbying aimed at a federal prohibition on college athlete group licensing.
NCPA Executive Director Ramogi Huma stated, “This is a milestone achievement in the college athletes’ rights movement that was only possible through a long struggle. The rewards for athletes are worth it.”
The NCPA celebrates so many of our members and other college athletes’ rights supporters who made this possible. Here are just a few…
· California state Senators Nancy Skinner and Steve Bradford, economist Andy Schwarz for partnering with the NCPA to bring the first NIL law in the nation.
· UCLA BB Hall of Famer Ed O’Bannon, former apparel guru and athlete advocate Sonny Vaccaro, and lawyer Michael Hausfeld for bringing and winning the O’Bannon v NCAA NIL antitrust lawsuit.
· Former West Virginia FB player Shawne Alston & former Clemson FB player Martin Jenkins, athlete lawyers Jeff Kessler and Steve Berman for bringing and winning the Alston v. NCAA athlete compensation antitrust lawsuit.
· US Senators Cory Booker, Richard Blumenthal, and Maria Cantwell for supporting the NCPA’s efforts to stop proposals to eliminate players’ NIL and group licensing rights.
· EA Sports and One Team Partners for seamlessly providing a way for college football players to choose whether to be included in the game.