College football players that have agreed to collective licensing agreements for the use of their names, images, and likenesses in video games include Ryan Williams, a receiver for Alabama, and other Crimson Tide players.
The revelation was first reported by Yahoo Sports, which claims that it “is expected to be the single largest commercial deal in the industry’s history.”
The executives of Pathway Sports and Entertainment, a business that specializes in making money off of athlete NIL rights, told Yahoo Sports that the firm offers players “four-figure guarantees as part of video game NIL agreements.”
In Alabama, Illinois, Georgia, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, and Oregon, Pathway has reportedly recruited over 450 athletes.
Williams, the Alabama receiver, told Yahoo that “Pathway is helping us get our fair share of royalties from a billion-dollar business driven by a video game that is loved around the world.”
Each participant receives $1,000 up front, and royalties are also anticipated, according to the report.
The business plans to visit Clemson, West Virginia, Missouri, and Tennessee in order to sign all scholarship college football players.
“Most athletic directors and most college football coaches want to support their football players in making legitimate commercial dollars,” NFLPA official Casey Schwab, who is a member of the Pathway three-person leadership committee, told Pete Thamel. Thus far, the response has been outstanding.
EA Sports engaged directly with athletes last year, and each player received $600 for “College Football 25.”
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