EA Releases College Football 26' Cover Athletes, Adidas Enters into the High School NIL Space, ICYMI, & More | NIL Newsletter #332
Today’s Thursday newsletter includes highlights from this week, important news from last week, and what to watch for.
This Thursday’s Newsletter Includes:
1. EA College Football 26’
2. Adidas Enters into the High School NIL Landscape
3. Quick Hitters
4. ICYMI: Arizona JUCO Becomes First in State to Offer NIL Opportunities
5. What to Watch For: Whether Bruce Pearl Could be running for Senate
🏆Major News
EA Sports Releases College Football 26’ Cover Athletes
EA Sports is set to release College Football 26 on July 10, 2025, building on the success of last year’s revival of the video game and fueling excitement among fans and players.
The original version of EA College Football was discontinued in 2013 after almost 25 years. The original version did not mention or display athlete’s or coaches names, however there was often extreme similarities between the video game’s players and the real life college athletes. Athletes in the past were not compensated for the original version of EA College Football.
This year’s edition features Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Ryan Williams (Alabama) on the cover, both standout sophomores who earned the spotlight with dominant freshman seasons.
Smith, who led all freshmen with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and won a national title, headlines the game's promotional campaign.
Progressive NIL regulations have revived EA’s college football series, allowing over 11,000 athletes to participate in exchange for $600 and a copy of the game.
The upcoming deluxe edition includes coaching staff on the cover, multiple former stars, and select coaches will be playable — a first in franchise mode history.
Coaches such as Kenny Dillingham (ASU), Kirby Smart (Georgia), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), Ryan Day (Ohio State), Lane Kiffen (Ole Miss), Dan Lanning (Oregon), and James Franklin (Penn State) will be featured on the Deluxe Editions.
Former starts such as Reggie Bush, Tim Tebow, and Denard Robinson will also be featured on the Deluxe Edition Cover
A full trailer drops Thursday, just ahead of the preorder window, with EA aiming to expand NIL visibility and digital licensing for athletes nationwide.
Adidas Enters into the High School NIL Landscape
Adidas continues expanding its NIL footprint, announcing a wave of new signings from the Class of 2025, including Kaleena Smith and Adam Oumiddoch, with future stars from the 2026 and 2027 cycles also on board.
Top 2026 prospects Caleb Holt, Tay Kinney, and Anthony Thompson, along with rising girls’ standouts Oliviyah Edwards and Kate Harpring, joined the roster as part of Adidas’ youth athlete development initiative.
Five-star talent Caleb Holt carries a $1.3 million On3 NIL Valuation, ranking him #10 among high school basketball players and a top-100 NIL athlete overall.
Adidas is not only capitalizing on elite basketball talent — it’s also securing football stars like Madden Iamaleava, Vernell Brown III, and Chris Henry Jr. through its “adizero 7 Class” campaign.
The deals signal Adidas’ deeper investment in the NIL space, particularly in grassroots partnerships with Overtime Elite and the OT7 circuit, continuing its collaboration since 2023.
The new class reflects Adidas’ strategy to provide young athletes with early support, NIL infrastructure, and a global platform to grow their brands.
📌Quick Hitters:
Kirby Smart Calls Out Collectives for High School NIL Deals – Georgia head coach Kirby Smart criticized collectives for offering high school recruits up to $20K/month to secure commitments, alleging that decommitting leads to repayment demands — spotlighting the unregulated chaos in NIL ahead of the House v. NCAA settlement. 🔗 LINK
Clemson Pitchers Launch First Player-Owned NIL Brand – Clemson’s Aidan Knaak and Justin LeGuernic debuted Cardiak Cats, the first athlete-founded apparel brand in college baseball, with limited-edition hats capturing their team’s clutch identity — launched just ahead of the NCAA Regionals. 🔗 LINK
Tahaad Pettiford Withdraws from NBA Draft, Returns to Auburn – After a standout freshman season and strong NBA Combine showing, Auburn PG Tahaad Pettiford is heading back to campus for 2025–26, giving the Tigers a major boost following their Final Four run. 🔗 LINK
Texas A&M Coach Slams Uncertainty in NCAA Settlement Rollout – Texas A&M Head Coach Mike Elko voiced frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding the House v. NCAA settlement, likening mid-offseason changes like the proposed $20.5M salary cap to an NFL team shifting rules on the fly. 🔗 LINK
ICYMI
Arizona JUCO Becomes First in State to Offer NIL Opportunities
Arizona Western College has become the first junior college in Arizona to officially allow student-athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
The school’s move follows updated NJCAA guidelines allowing two-year schools to engage in NIL, a frontier previously dominated by NCAA programs.
Arizona Western partnered with Opendorse to facilitate athlete education and deal-making, joining over 200 schools across divisions using the platform.
School officials say NIL access could significantly aid recruitment, particularly for high-profile football and basketball players looking to transfer to four-year universities.
Athletic Director Jerry Smith emphasized that this initiative promotes both opportunity and responsibility for student-athletes.
Arizona Western’s decision signals a new era of NIL trickling down to community college levels, setting a precedent for other JUCO programs nationwide.
What To Watch For: Whether Bruce Pearl Runs for Senate
Tommy Tuberville exits Senate to run for governor: The former Auburn football coach and current U.S. Senator announced he won’t seek re-election in 2026, instead launching a campaign for Alabama governor after serving one Senate term since defeating Doug Jones in 2020.
Bruce Pearl emerges as potential candidate: Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl is reportedly considering a Senate run, with sources telling Semafor he’s shown interest—recently appearing on Capitol Hill and currently serving as chairman of the U.S. Israel Education Association.
Reaction to Pearl’s potential candidacy is mixed: Some believe Pearl is serious about running, while others doubt he’d leave coaching given his success and salary; Tuberville commented saying that he doesn’t think Pearl will ultimately enter the race, citing his recent Final Four success and high salary. “The compensation is a little bit different,” Tuberville said. “I wouldn’t let him do it because he did such a good job at Auburn. We need him there.”
Pearl’s coaching record and visibility boost his political profile: Since becoming Auburn’s head coach in 2014, Pearl has led the Tigers to a 244–123 record and the program’s only two Final Four appearances (2019, 2025). Auburn was the No. 1 overall seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, finishing 32–6 overall and 15–3 in SEC play.
High stakes and political crossover: Pearl’s rumored candidacy would make him one of the most prominent sports figures to enter politics since Tuberville, bringing SEC fame into the political arena and raising questions about the influence of celebrity in Alabama elections.
No confirmation yet, but momentum is building: Pearl hasn’t publicly addressed the speculation, but with the Senate seat open in 2026 and national media attention growing, the idea of a Bruce Pearl Senate run is gaining traction and could reshape the race.
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