With the NCAA declining to allow EA to publish a NCAA Football game while the suit over players' likenesses is resolved, EA is left with one of their star sports franchises in limbo for the next year. Rather than letting this become a handicap, EA has a unique chance to alter their business model to seize an opportunity.
1) A robust Dynasty system
EA has the pro football game market cornered with Madden, due to an exclusivity contract. The type of player that traditionally buys Madden tends to be the type of player that wants to play with current players and rosters, and the excitement about Madden expires for many of these players in Dynasty Mode, where after only 4-5 years, the league is dominated by fictional players, and after 10 seasons, there are 0 familiar faces. NCAA players, meanwhile, lean heavily on dynasty gameplay, in part because of the lack of player likenesses, in addition to playing as their current favor team. The crossover between in Dynasty Mode largely is relegated only to the ability to export players to a pro draft into Madden, which would not exist without an NCAA title.
Instead of creating a second game for college teams, EA can take a significant page out of Sony's playbook for MLB: the Show. Sony has a robust minor league system included with their pro game, leading to a seamless transition from the minors to the majors. EA could enter deals with individual schools and conferences, and create an Expanded Dynasty or College Dynasty option in which players can play a college franchise and a pro franchise, and draft players directly into the title without a need to purchase a separate mode. Suddenly the players who would purchase NCAA for the dynasty mode would be drawn to the flagship of EA Sports, and EA has a great premium DLC option to sell on top of their product.
2) Expansion to CFL, Arena Football, NFL Europe
Alongside an expansion to college teams, EA could benefit greatly from expanding the potential player pool. Licenses with other American Football leagues would allow a more robust dynasty/franchise mode, and create a full Minor League-like system. Each of these leagues could be more DLC (yuck. I hate even suggesting it, but I know this is how EA would do it, rather than including them in the core game). The different rules in each league would provide a varied gameplay experience that would also keep the product fresh.
3) Fantasy Football
Madden's current strength is in pitting current players up against one another. That makes it an unbalanced multiplayer environment at best. While many players may enjoy playing strictly as their favorite team, or on a standard fantasy draft, EA could create a new option -- a focus on user-created teams that compete in leagues with differing rules. They could truly focus on making the best football game period, and let people adjust everything field sizes, quarter lengths, clock rules, penalties, extra-point and kickoff rules, and league/playoff rules (including relegation!). For added hilarity, league rules could allow you to set your home field rules entirely. As an added bonus, this can mean that EA could expand to fictional leagues, and finally remake Mutant League Football.
4) Remake Mutant League Football
Just give it to me. I want it. Take my money. TAKE IT.
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