EA Sports’ College Football Video Game Release Generates Excitement, but Payout System Sparks Controversy

The release of EA Sports’ new college football video game on July 19 is generating a lot of excitement among fans who have been eagerly waiting for a new version for nearly a decade. The game promises to offer an immersive experience with improved graphics and gameplay features. However, amidst all the hype, there has been less focus on the payouts for the programs that have opted in to be a part of the game.

EA Sports has divided teams into four tiers based on AP standings from 2014-23, with Tier 1 being the most profitable tier. Georgia is among the 13 teams in Tier 1, along with other powerhouse programs like Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson. These Tier 1 teams will receive a payout of $99,875.16.

On the other hand, the second tier of teams will receive a payout of $39,950.06, while Tier 4 teams will receive a minimum payout of $9,987.52. The majority of SEC teams qualified for either Tier 1 or Tier 2, with only South Carolina and Arkansas falling into Tier 3 and Vanderbilt being the lone SEC program in Tier 4.

Overall, the distribution of teams in the various tiers is varied, with representation from multiple conferences. The rankings are based on 2024 membership and showcase which conferences and teams have been designated in different tiers based on their performance. This provides an interesting insight into how well different programs performed over the years and how they are rewarded for it in this particular game.