Electronic Arts just lost one of its most important licensing deals. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has publicly announced that it won't be renewing its contract with EA when the current deal lapses in June 2014. That means NCAA 14, released earlier this month, will be the final collaboration between both sides.
Importantly, the NCAA's decision doesn't forbid EA from making a college football game, but the publisher would be barred from using the NCAA name / logo and would need to negotiate licensing with universities on an individual basis. The NCAA says colleges 'will have to independently decide whether to continue those business arrangements in the future.' Even if the two should eventually patch things up, the days of EA's exclusive grasp on NCAA football are over.