Illinois football fans felt a wave of nostalgia when their beloved Illini made a grand entrance back into the virtual gridiron with College Football 25. After a decade-long absence, the Illini are once again playable, marking a significant milestone in the digital sports world. This comeback was made possible by the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, which now allow players to earn from their inclusion in video games.
The game itself takes a unique approach by categorizing teams into tiers based on their performance over the last ten years, essentially dictating the revenue they generate. With each Top 25 finish in the AP poll earning a program a point, the tiers are set as follows: Tier 1 boasts 6-10 points, translating to a payout of $99,875.16; Tier 2 requires 2-5 points, with a reward of $59,925.09; Tier 3 is for those with a single point, earning $39,950.06; and Tier 4, for programs with zero points, stands at $9,987.52.
So, where does Illinois find itself in this tiered system? Unfortunately for the fans, the Illini are nestled in Tier 4. Despite the excitement surrounding their return to video games, the team didn’t manage a single AP Top 25 finish from 2014 through 2023. As such, their cut of the video game earnings was a modest $9,987.52.
This position highlights how past coaching decisions have impacted the program’s present and future, especially concerning NIL revenue. Illinois football has been trying to shake off the shadow of previous coaching struggles that stunted both on-field success and recruitment efforts. The Bret Bielema era in Champaign, however, is working hard to reverse these trends, aiming to elevate the program’s status and, in turn, its earning potential from ventures like the College Football video games.
The financial implications are clear—had Illinois managed a single AP Top 25 finish in the last decade, their purse from the game would have swelled by $30,000. Such a sum could potentially be pivotal in recruiting a game-changing talent. Fortunately, the winds of change are blowing, ushering in renewed hope and rising prospects for the Illini, ensuring they aim for a spot higher up in the tiers in the future.
