In a world where sports fans can load up video game systems and play as their favorite athletes from across the sporting world, one of America’s most popular sports — college football — disappeared. But now, after a long wait, new Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) regulations have made it possible for EA to announce “College Football 25” and revive one of the greatest sports video game franchises of all time.
Due to licensing issues, Electronic Arts (EA)’s extremely popular “NCAA Football” franchise went dark after its most popular edition in 2013. People have desperately clung to this outdated game in the 11 years since then. I even sold my copy on the PS3 for over a hundred dollars in 2020 (most brand-new EA games only cost $60 at most). Even when EA was previously making college games, these games were extremely limited by the NCAA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA). That all changes with “College Football 25.”
“College Football 25” will incorporate many integral features from good old NCAA 14, including Dynasty and Road to Glory career modes, and the return of the Mascot Madness mode. Dynasty mode lets you take over a team as head coach and delve into all the decisions a college head coach can make, including scheduling, recruiting players and calling plays — as well as being able to play the games themselves.
Road to Glory, my personal favorite growing up, allows you to create your player and high school and try to play well enough to go to your dream colleges. Once you’re in college, you get to participate in practice and play in games to compete for the Heisman or even a National Championship.
Mascot mode, the most social of the game modes, allowed you and your friends to play head-to-head with full teams of college mascots. This game mode was one of the most fun in any video game growing up, as you could be the Michigan State Spartans throwing passes against a defense of Alabama Elephants as you and your friends compete and laugh about how ridiculous and funny this game mode is.
However, “College Football 25” will not just be a carbon copy of its predecessor. EA has taken some features from two of its other franchises, FIFA and Madden, by adding an Ultimate Team mode. In this mode, players compete against each other online with teams they’ve built of both current and legendary college football players by competing in weekly skill challenges, completing objectives and probably spending a ton of money (it wouldn’t be EA if it weren’t pay-to-win).
“College Football 25’s” arrival in the NIL era allows it to be more detailed than any NCAA game of the past. NCAA games have always had to struggle for accuracy and details, as the NCAA rules about paying players and using the university’s branding were very strict. Now, though, the game will be extremely in-depth. All 134 Football Bowl Subdivision teams will feature in the game, with Football Championship Subdivision teams rumored to appear at some point as well. Stadiums will be accurate with team and fan traditions featured in the game, including some extremely popular songs like “Mr. Brightside” and “Seven Nation Army”. Individual names and likenesses will even be included in the game, as EA is offering $600 and a copy of the game to any athlete who chooses to participate in the project.
While EA has disappointed fans in the recent past with buggy Madden games and a copy-and-paste FIFA franchise, “College Football 25” has built up incredible anticipation. The game is set to be released this summer, and while an official date is yet to be announced, you better be sure that I will be purchasing my copy as soon as I can. And despite giving up my dreams of playing football back when I was 10 years old playing NCAA 14, I will still be starting a new Road to Glory to get Scott Lebo to win a national championship at the University of Michigan.
