EA SPORTS College Football 25 Discussion

As fans of the NCAA Football video game series from EA SPORTS are almost certainly aware, the newest edition of the game is launching on July 19 following an 11-year gap since the last release. Given how little is going on in real football before training camp starts in the NFL, I thought we’d take a look at this curious case of video game football. EA SPORTS College Football has been gone since 2014, but it has returned with a flourish. What happened to the series, why is it back now, and what has the reaction been like? The answers to these questions and more are provided below!

Where has EA SPORTS College Football Been?

We’re returning to a beloved topic: NIL! Yes, name, image, and likeness disputes wrecked the NCAA Football game series. Though NIL is in a much more solidified place now, that was hardly the case back in 2014. The NCAA practically owned players’ rights in this regard, and it worked with EA to make various sports games. You can probably guess that a lawsuit caused the series to be cancelled. What some may not know is that it wasn’t a football player who drew first blood. Former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon filed a class-action suit over the NCAA Basketball games, even though he wasn’t actually in them.

The reason he and other players did not appear as “themselves” in the game was that EA had found a loophole. Players did not consent to being used in games for free. Meanwhile, the NCAA refused to let EA pay them. The company’s solution was to essentially make clones of the players they wanted. These characters, while possessing made up names, had stats, appearances, measurables, and even team/number combinations that matched their real-life counterparts. Because of this obvious charade, O’Bannon’s group won the suit. EA was willing to pay players, but the NCAA prohibited it. Thus, the games went away for years.

Why is EA SPORTS College Football Returning Now?

To put it simply, the NIL landscape is light years from where it was back in 2014. As we’ve discussed on this very site, players can sign endorsement deals and have much more control over their own profitability. Though the NCAA certainly hates it, the government has granted players these rights. Without the threat of an NCAA veto, EA was able to approach the players and make an offer. Each player will receive at least $600 and a copy of the game. Players can earn more through promotional activities. Thousands of players have signed on to the project, and EA wasted no time developing it.

Almost zero notable players opted out of appearing in the game. The one exception, Texas QB and football heir Arch Manning, just changed his mind after receiving a hefty sum of cash. All 134 FBS schools are on board as well, so no Division I-A team is unrepresented here. The sheer amount of buy-in this game has received likely convinced EA that this was a worthy undertaking. If you’re wondering why they chose 2024 in particular, I’d imagine it’s a simple matter of timing. The NIL rules, player agreements, and game development process all took time, and the game is ready a few years after its inception.

What is the New Game Like?

Full disclaimer: I have not played the game myself. Like you, I have only seen EA’s “gameplay deep dive” online. However, quite a few details are included in there, so we can glean some general insights. At first glance, it looks basically like a re-skinned Madden game. That would be fine, as I and plenty of others love EA’s pro football series. In that sense, you know what to expect here. However, there are 2 big additions. First, a feature called “Wear and Tear” now means that players who have seen a lot of action won’t be 100% all the time. This is more realistic, as players don’t stay perfectly healthy all season.

The other change is one that Madden fans have demanded for YEARS: smarter AI. Before, it was very simple to outsmart the CPU opponents by learning their tendencies. Now, the AI will adjust. It should disguise coverages, focus on stopping your best players, and make adjustments. Overall, it should just be smarter about situational football. Wasting time during a 2-minute drill, showing zero pocket presence, and falling for a repeated play call multiple times in a row should be issues of the past. Even if you don’t trust in EA to do right by players, this game should be able to satisfy the majority of football fans.

How are Players and Fans Reacting?

This is incredibly rare for EA, but the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. I haven’t even heard a negative take that gained any traction. People are really enjoying the flow of the game, and playing it feels great. I’m sure some nostalgia for the old NCAA Football games is baked into some players’ opinions, but importantly, that’s merely a small part. Those who follow a college team but not a pro team (either because they prefer college football or have no local team to root for) have a football video game for them. The players featured in the game are also excited to be in the game and getting paid. I see good feelings all around!

Is EA SPORTS College Football Finally Here to Stay?

As with NIL itself, I believe EA SPORTS College Football is going to remain and be an integral part of college athletics. Video games have stood the test of time, and people buy new Madden games every year even though very little changes with each release. College football changes a lot more, with players leaving for the NFL or entering the transfer portal each season. That should make the College Football series much fresher on a year-to-year basis. It’s also important to remember that the series didn’t end due to a lack of demand. Legal battles prevented EA from making new titles in SPITE of massive fan interest.

The ability of any game series to last comes down to demand for the product. Based on everything we’ve seen over the past decade, people have been consistently begging for a new college football entry from EA. The celebration that followed EA’s announcement of this new game assures me that they’re on the right path. I feel obligated to point out that EA is not a popular company, and they’re known for doing many things that anger their customers. Even so, there’s just too much good will here for anyone to mess it up, at least for a little while. EA Sports College Football 26 and beyond seem like locks to be made.