Gamers Raise $60,000 for UI Children’s Hospital in EA Sports College Football Charity Tournament

While the Iowa Hawkeyes took a break from the field, Kinnick Stadium was still buzzing with football energy this weekend — but in a different form. The “Extra Life Charity Challenge”, an EA Sports College Football tournament, united 64 players and hundreds of spectators to support a meaningful cause: raising money for the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

💛 A Tournament With Heart

Among the competitors was 13-year-old Cooper Estenson, a former Hawkeye Kid Captain and childhood cancer survivor. Having beaten cancer last year, Cooper returned to Kinnick not as a patient, but as a player — using video games as a way to give back to kids still undergoing treatment.

“It just really shows that there are good people in the world that do care,” Estenson said.
“It helps a lot. I don’t think people know that, but it helps a lot.”

For Cooper, gaming provided more than entertainment during his treatment — it offered an escape and a sense of community. Now, through this tournament, he’s helping provide the same support to others.

🏈 Playing for a Purpose

The event, held inside one of college football’s most iconic stadiums, gave participants the chance to compete head-to-head in EA Sports College Football 26 while raising awareness and funds for pediatric patients and their families.

By the end of the day, organizers confirmed that players and fans had raised $60,000 — matching last year’s total and continuing the growing tradition of gamers giving back.

“Cooper and the rest of the gamers helped us reach our goal again,” organizers shared proudly. “Every controller click and every touchdown made a difference.”

🌟 Gaming for Good

The “Extra Life Charity Challenge” is part of a larger movement of gamers using their passion to make a real-world impact. Events like this highlight the power of gaming communities to rally behind important causes — proving that play can inspire hope, healing, and heart.

For Cooper and countless kids like him, the message is simple: you’re never playing alone.

Explore more EA Sports College Football stories and community highlights on the 1v1Me blog