Fresno State hits pause button on participating in college FB video game

Fresno State, which was among the first Group of Five conference schools to position its student-athletes to take advantage of coming Name, Image and Likeness guidelines, is opting out of the EA Sports College Football video game until NIL legislation is finalized.

Fresno State is one of at least four schools to opt out until rules are finalized allowing student-athletes to profit from use of their name, image or likenesses, including Notre Dame, Northwestern and Tulane.

“We understand and are excited for college athletics for the return of EA Sports,” Fresno State athletics director Terry Tumey said. “I think it helped grow the attractiveness of collegiate athletics and I think EA Sports recognizes the value of collegiate athletics from that vantage point and celebrates it in the right way.

“However, I think it’s also very important that as we move forward that we respectfully don’t participate until there’s some resolution as to how we’re moving forward in the space of allowing student-athletes to move forward with their entrepreneurial endeavors as it relates to Name, Image and Likeness. Until we have that kind of resolution, I think it would be a little premature for Fresno State to participate.”

EA Sports announced in February that it would relaunch its popular college football video game that was last produced in 2013, while the NCAA as well as state and federal governments work toward finalizing NIL legislation.

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors in January delayed the Name, Image and Likeness guidelines while affirming its commitment to it.

“The Division I membership continues to express strong support for changes to modernize its rules with the intent to enhance student-athlete well-being.” the NCAA said in a January statement.