Summary
College Football 25will mark the first entry from EA in its formerly titledNCAA Footballseries since 2013, and coming back after such a long hiatus calls for a grand entrance.College Football 25will look to be much more than just aMaddenre-skin, brimming with the revelry, tradition, and personality that sets college football apart from the pros, and given its impressive list of announced features, there is plenty for fans to cheer about.
EA made itsearnest unveiling ofCollege Football 25in the middle of May, with a dizzying rundown of its impressive feature list and extensively-detailed college iconography. The game is set to arrive on July 19, preempting the football season by a few weeks like its NFL contemporary. EA’s last foray into college football,NCAA Football 14,received favorable reviews, but did not merit a follow-up with the legal baggage of NCAA’s legal likeness restrictions, at least not until 2024 with the new NIL deal in collegiate athletics. So in-demand has a college football game become, that copies ofNCAA Footballcan sell for as much as $250 online, and it has become the basis for theCollege Football Revampedmodding community, of which, EA has hired several members to work on its new title.
It’s in the Game
Though advertised as an experience built from the ground up,College Football 25will run on EA’s Frostbite engine, the same used forMadden. Features from its most recent iteration will more than likely be included in both titles, though the newestgameplay innovations are being spotlighted inCollege Football 25.The improvements on play-to-play gameplay are outlined in the press release forCollege Football 25,including:
Really nailing the atmosphere of the college football environment is paramount to EA, and its thoughtful attention to detail and nuanced additions ring true on that intent. While there will be a greater focus on teams from the Power 5 conferences,all 134 schools included inCollege Football 25will include unique fan chants, fight songs, mascots, rival traditions, run-outs, and each school’s playbook. Marquee matchups will be cast by the legendary duo of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, with Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, and David Pollack also lending their talents as broadcast commentators.
Keeping One Foot In-bounds in Reality
Among the game modes, of course, is the ever-present Ultimate Team, which EA has implemented across all of its sport franchise titles. Also reappearing isCollege Football 25’s Dynasty Mode, which will have players creating their own coach, to take the reins of a college program, managing everything from staff needs to training facilities, to navigating the college transfer portal and high school recruitment. The all-new singleplayer mode, Road to Glory, might be the vicarious player fantasy many fans have been waiting for, stepping into the shoes of a student athlete, replete with class schedules (and a GPA to match), coach trust, and even public image to juggle as they vie for a shot to show the world what they’re made of, and a chance for the coveted Heisman Trophy.
ForCollege Football 25, its press release and the recent player event have just scratched the surface on what the game will entail in totality. Early reception from the lucky few that have gotten their hands on the game is immensely positive. With 11 years now passed since college football fans have gotten anofficially-licensed NCAA game, all signs point to their patience being amply rewarded.
