EA Sports may have just created the BIGGEST ‘cheat code’ in the history of college athletics, and I am all for it. This is BIGGER than schools (allegedly) putting their players in easy courses, so they don’t have to worry about academic probation. It’s BIGGER than athletic departments paying recruits, or their family members (prior to NIL), to have them attend their specific college.

This so-called ‘cheat code’ is so big, to the point where it’s allowing FANS of college football to decide where EA’s NIL money will be going……by SIMPLY PLAYING A VIDEO GAME!

NEW: EA Sports College Football 26 will now pay schools based on game usage, via @cllctMedia💰

If users play 7 million games as School A, the school’s allocation would be 1%. Therefore, School A would receive $50,000.https://t.co/hZddO2OAVm pic.twitter.com/QZnVx7Fsby

— On3 (@On3sports) June 6, 2025

That’s right; according to multiple reports online, college football teams who opted in to being a part of College Football 26 will be eligible to receive NIL money based on the amount of times their school is used in the game. So, as the tweet above says; if Illinois (for example) was used 7 million times, then the SCHOOL ITSELF will be allocated a certain amount of money based on the percentage of times they were used.

So basically; if you want your school, or your favorite team, to have a little extra money to spend on players……then you need to put in some SERIOUS man-hours when it comes to playing this game. If you want to change the landscape of college sports, and give teams like the Akron Zips and the Marshall Thundering Herd a fighting chance…..then you need to put in the work, as a fan.

I absolutely LOVE this move! This is, without question, one of the most revolutionary moments in the history of sports. Sure, we couldn’t really have something like this back in the day, since paying players in college was “illegal” and “frowned upon.” (What a bunch of DWEEBS)! But NOW? With NIL running rampant? I think it’s safe to say that EA and the NCAA have taken the first real step towards combing in-game and real-life play.

It’s a monumental moment for fans across the country, as they now have a say in how much extra money their respective schools can receive. It is also a chance that I, an avid Illinois fan, will CERTAINLY be taking full-advantage of come July. Even though I’ve been trying to “save” my money throughout these trying times…….the thought of securing Brett Bielema and co. a bigger bag of cash is all the reason I need to download this game.

Let’s have a year, sports fans. This is going to be an EPIC RIDE to the start of the season.

But in the end, as always……what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.