When it comes to the much-anticipated EA Sports College Football title, Caleb Williams just isn’t sure.
The USC Trojans’s superstar quarterback has a lot on his plate. Last season, the Trojan signal-caller led Southern Cal to its best, or at least the most relevant season in recent memory. While they were unsuccessful in the Pac-12 Championship Game and the Cotton Bowl, expectations remain sky-high in Los Angeles. Williams plays a big part in that, as the sensational quarterback already has his eyes on the top spot in the NFL Draft.
But as far as his presence in the video game? He’s unsure because of the word ‘value.’ Williams spoke to Yahoo! Sports writer Ross Dellenger about it and had much to say.
Williams suggested a player’s value — experience, playing time, accolades, etc. — should be considered in determining their compensation level.
“Thing about life is, you have to adjust to anything. Businesses and brands and things like that have to adjust to the new brand of college. I’d love to have the game back, but it’s the new day and age and everybody knows what the new day and age in college is,” said Williams, referencing the burgeoning NIL industry in which he’s thrived.
“It’s like if you go to school and you are a straight-A student and there’s another kid whose strong suit isn’t school and he gets B’s or B-minuses. How fair would it be if you get the same grade as him? That never works in school and it doesn’t make sense. That’s how I look at that game with the situation with the $500.”
It’s not necessarily an incorrect perspective. There has been worry over the $500 and whether that’s “enough” for players out there. But to that end, there are issues with that thought.
Firstly, simple math would suggest that allotting money out to players would be complicated and result in low payouts. Why? Simply the sheer number of players on FBS rosters. It’s not comparable to pro sports, where 30 or 32 teams are in these leagues. Over 120 FBS schools and dozens of players are on the roster.
Secondly, whether it’s adequate for the players or not, does EA Sports need the players? While it would be great to see them get payouts and have those payouts be necessary, let’s remember: EA Sports had the college football series for nearly two decades and didn’t have a single player licensed to the game. People still played it in droves. Avid sports gamers couldn’t even play as home run king Barry Bonds in MLB titles in the early 2000s, and that was in his absolute heyday.
Still, people bought and played the games. And given how anticipated this game has been, people will still likely buy the game next year, Caleb Williams or not.
