Notre Dame won't participate in EA's football game until likeness rules set
College football fans shouldn't expect to see Notre Dame in EA Sports' new NCAA Football video game - at least not for now.
Athletic director Jack Swarbrick said Monday that the Fighting Irish won't participate in the game until the NCAA finalizes the parameters with names, images, or likenesses (NIL).
"Notre Dame Athletics welcomes the return of EA Sports College Football, a video game series that has historically helped promote interest in college football," Swarbrick said in a statement. "Notre Dame will not, however, participate in the game until such time as rules have been finalized governing the participation of our student-athletes.
"As those rules are developed, it is our strong desire that student-athletes be allowed to benefit directly from allowing their name, image and performance history to be used in the game."
EA Sports recently announced a partnership with collegiate trademark licensing company CLC on the development of EA Sports College Football, the company's first college football video game since the cancellation of NCAA Football in 2013.
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly took to Twitter to voice his support for Swarbrick's decision.
We are here to support our student-athletes. Much like we have empowered our players when it comes to providing a platform to speak on racial inequalities & social issues that are important to them, we must support them when it comes to NIL & the work that still needs to be done. https://t.co/CrK17BDxsk
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) February 22, 2021
Several U.S. states, including Florida and California, have passed NIL laws. Florida is set to allow college athletes in the state to make money from endorsements starting July 1.