EA Sports College Football 25: A New Era of College Football Gaming

After an 11-year hiatus, college football video game fanatics finally have a reason to celebrate. EA Sports College Football 25 is set to be released worldwide on July 19, marking the return of a beloved franchise. This release is particularly significant as it features active college football players on the cover for the first time ever.

Cover Stars and Editions

The cover of EA Sports College Football 25 will feature Colorado cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, and Michigan running back Donovan Edwards. The trio will be on both the standard and deluxe editions of the game.

Available Editions:

Standard Edition: \$69.99
Deluxe Edition: \$99.99
MVP Bundle: \$149.99 (includes the deluxe editions of EA SPORTS College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25)

Release Date and Early Access

EA Sports College Football 25 will be released worldwide on July 19. However, those who purchase the Deluxe Edition can enjoy 3-day early access starting on July 16. Pre-orders are available until July 18.

Platforms

EA Sports College Football 25 will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The Return of College Football Games

EA Sports’ video game franchise began in 1993 but faced a setback when the NCAA Football game folded in 2013 due to player likeness issues without compensation. The reason why a college football video game hasn't been released since then, was player likeness without compensation. However, with name, image, and likeness (NIL) now prevalent in college sports, EA Sports will compensate players in exchange for their likeness, offering $600 and a free copy of the game to those who opt-in.

The Impact of NIL Rules

The return is largely due to the evolution of NIL rules. The previous NCAA Football game had players on its cover, but they had already left the college ranks by the time the game came out. Hunter, Ewers, and Edwards are among the more than 10,000 college football players expected to be in the game, according to EA Sports.

The journey back to the gaming world involved navigating complex legal landscapes and NCAA regulations. Following the release of the series' previous entry in 2013, Electronic Arts (EA) settled a lawsuit brought by former college football players who argued their name, image and, likeness (NIL) were used without permission or compensation. Initially, player names and likenesses were not to be included in the game. Because of this, several schools, including Notre Dame, Tulane and Northwestern refused to join the game until NIL rules were finalized. EA Sports responded by stating "player name, image and likeness is not currently planned for the game. However, we are watching the developments in this area closely and are prepared to take steps to include players should that opportunity arise." At the time, the NCAA had delayed and not voted on new NIL rules, but over two dozen states had either passed or proposed laws so that institutions couldn't enforce the NCAA's NIL rules. The 2021 United States Supreme Court case NCAA v. Alston led to the Supreme Court ruling in favor of player compensation. Therefore now, players can be paid for their name, image and likeness.

Cover Athletes' Reactions

All the cover stars expressed their excitement about being part of the game. Ewers noted, “They're gonna remember all three of us because we were the first guys on the cover to kind of bring it back. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to be on the cover of the game.” Hunter added, “I wasn't gonna turn them down. It's a dream come true.” Edwards, the second consecutive Michigan player to be on a college football video game cover after former quarterback Denard Robinson was the cover star for NCAA Football 14, cherishes the moment with his fellow cover athletes, creating a lasting brotherhood.

Game Features and Modes

EA Sports College Football 25 aims to deliver an authentic and immersive college football experience.

Key Features:

Authentic Atmospheres: Iconic soundscapes fully immerse you inside legendary stadiums, from The Big House to The Swamp, from Tuscaloosa to College Station, complete with all their iconic rituals and traditions.
Explosive Gameplay: CampusIQ offers an authentic, fast-paced college football experience, featuring an all-new composure system, player Wear & Tear, homefield advantages and dozens of diverse playstyles across all 134 FBS teams.
CampusIQ: Offers an authentic, fast-paced college football experience.
Wear & Tear System: Players wear down as the hits add up.
Pre-Snap Recognition: Makes every decision behind the snap matter more.
Homefield Advantages: Rattle rivals in college football's toughest places to play.

Game Modes:

Dynasty Mode: Create a coach, take control, upgrade their abilities, and build a powerhouse college football program.
Road to Glory: Live the life of a student-athlete with your created player and take home the Heisman as you build an unforgettable college football legacy.
Ultimate Team: Build your dream team of college football stars and legends. Play Solo Challenges or H2H Seasons to upgrade your squad and take on the toughest contests.

What to Expect

The game promises to be more than just a reskin of Madden, built instead on the Madden engine. Schools have submitted thousands of assets to EA Sports over the past three years, including stadium photos, jerseys, crowd cheers, and more. College Football Playoff and bowl imagery will be used, and many ESPN broadcasters have already recorded their calls.

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Pre-Order Bonuses and Content

Purchase of any version of the game includes an alma mater ultimate team pack, cover athletes ultimate team pack and bring glory home ultimate team pack.

Deluxe Edition and MVP Bundle Content:

Three-day early access for both games
4,600 college football points (in-game currency)
Heisman hopeful ultimate team pack
Alma Mater Ultimate Team Pack [Choice of 1 out of 134 player items]
Cover Athlete Ultimate Team Pack [choice of 1 of 3 player items]
Bring Glory Home Ultimate Team Uniform Item

Concerns and Omissions

While the game includes all 134 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs, the 128 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs will not be included at launch. Additionally, while the Heisman Trophy will be included, many other individual award trophies will not be in it.

Commentary Team

The ESPN's lead college football commentary team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit announced that they would be featured as commentators. Herbstreit was a commentator in EA's original NCAA Football series until its hiatus after NCAA Football 14.

Reception

Upon its release, EA Sports College Football 25 received generally positive reviews from critics. Dynasty mode was particularly praised by critics.

A Glimpse into the Game

A 21-minute gameplay trailer was premiered on July 8, 2024, featuring YouTuber Bordeaux and cover athlete Donovan Edwards. They played two games, with Edwards winning both with raw gameplay being revealed soon after. As well as the trailer, the day after, an Ultimate Team Deep Dive was posted. On July 12, 2024, YouTubers and Twitch Streamers who are in EA's Creator Network program got access to a nearly final edition of the game, in which rebuilds, player careers, and raw gameplay were shortly uploaded and streamed on YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms.

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Licensed Music

Other licensed music appearing in College Football 25 includes "Sandstorm", "Mo Bamba", "Kernkraft 400", "Welcome to the Jungle", "Wave on Wave", and an instrumental of "Talkin' Out the Side of Your Neck".

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