Review: EA Sports College Football 25 is the long-awaited payoff

As a long-time college football fan and follower of the industry, I can honestly say that EA Sports College Football 25 has exceeded my expectations in many ways. Having closely followed the development of this game since 2021, it’s been an exciting journey to finally get my hands on a product that truly captures the essence of college football culture.

With approximately 45 seconds remaining before halftime, I’m working to maintain my four-point advantage against the Wyoming Cowboys during our night game against the East Carolina Pirates. The crowd at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is densely packed and has been pre-gaming since early in the day. Despite logging around 20 hours of playtime over the past few days, I occasionally experience moments where my focus wavers – even during critical situations like this one, when I’d typically be fully engaged in my playcalling.

Holy cow, this is real.

After a ten-year hiatus from college football video games, I permit myself the occasional pause to ensure this is truly happening. Indeed, EA Sports College Football 25 exists in the flesh. This version might be more authentic than any before, as it incorporates real colleges, stadiums, broadcasters, and even the esteemed College Football Playoff. However, what makes this edition truly exceptional is the introduction of real players.

EA didn’t limit themselves to popular names like Quinn Ewers from Texas, Caleb Downs of Ohio State, or Luther Burden III from Missouri for their digital ECU team. Instead, they’ve brought almost everyone on board. My virtual quarterback is Jake Garcia, and my running back is Rahjai Harris, both genuine athletes. They’re working to avoid the digital tackles of Ben Florentine and Jordan Bertagnole, who are authentic Wyoming defensive tackles. In total, EA secured licenses for over 11,000 real-life college athletes, making this game’s representation of people the largest in a video game – perhaps even ever, undoubtedly in sports games.

For a long time, Electronic Arts (EA) didn’t compensate athletes properly, leading to older versions of NCAA Football with rosters featuring players named QB #15 or RB #3, who were striking resemblances to real, unpaid athletes. Eventually, the athletes filed lawsuits, EA paid damages, schools withdrew their licenses, and the franchise was discontinued.

The NCAA has recently discarded its antiquated views on amateurism, allowing student-athletes to earn compensation not only for their virtual selves in video games but also for various other commercial deals. This development signifies the potential comeback of EA’s college football video game series.

I’ve been an avid college football fan my entire life, and I’ve played more than my fair share of video games trying to get that authentic NCAA football experience. So when this game was finally announced, I was thrilled. And let me tell you, despite some imperfections, this game has exceeded my expectations.

College football is defined by numerous unique elements at each of the 134 FBS schools. The atmosphere, including stadiums, crowd cheers, uniforms, mascots, and more, significantly contributes to the distinct experience of every game day.

Through the use of open records requests and old-fashioned phone calls, I have delved extensively into how Electronic Arts (EA) and various schools have endeavored to recreate authentic experiences digitally over the past few years. Schools provided numerous audio files, ranging from third down plays to non-explicit student chants, as well as music selections from their marching bands. EA requested hundreds of stadium photos from diverse viewpoints, along with locker room snaps and seating diagrams, enabling game developers to create more precise renderings – from the specific location of the opposing band’s seat to the unique tunnel entrance for each team’s stadium.

EA didn’t get everything right in their latest release. Some stadiums have been overlooked during renovations, and lesser-known mascots are absent. The uniforms and logos also contain errors. It seems that EA did not invest heavily in licensing a wide range of songs, so popular college football traditions like “Jump Around” at Wisconsin or “Enter Sandman” at Virginia Tech are missing. As a result, you’ll hear “Mo Bamba” frequently during games, and the menu music, which consists only of drumlines, even more so. (I used to be a drummer in a band myself. I appreciate the power of cowbells and marching snares. But even I had to turn off the music at times.)

Overall, I believe EA did a great job with these unique features in the game. For instance, turnover thrones during team-specific transitions, teams singing their alma maters after each quarter, and Minnesota’s mascot performing a full 360-degree head rotation – all adding to an immersive experience.

The focus on intricacies isn’t limited to school-particular aspects, but extends to College Football 25’s portrayal of football as a whole. As you prepare to hike the ball, coaches down the sidelines brandish large play call signs, identical to real-life scenarios. Your quarterback might glance towards the sideline if you alter the play call at the line of scrimmage. Should you silence the home supporters, expect fans to display the surrender cobra gesture. Two distinct commentary teams and studio interjections enrich the gaming experience, making it feel like a significant broadcast event, even when competing against Wyoming at East Carolina.

For a long time before the launch of “College Football 25,” I frequently heard fans expressing anxiety that Electronic Arts (EA) might just create a new version of their NFL game by changing the logos and uniforms of teams like Nebraska and Alabama. In simpler terms, they feared it would be nothing more than an updated edition of “Madden Football” with a college football theme.

Certainly, there are commonalities. They’re both football games, developed by the same studio, and worked on by overlapping teams. However, I can definitively say that the way they play and the overall experience are significantly distinct.

In this game, you’ll find a noticeably new feel compared to NCAA Football 14. Those who assume they can transfer all their previous skills and instantly take control may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Based on my personal observation, this year’s college football game in NCAA series is more challenging than previous versions like NCAA 14. One significant change is the overhauled passing system that places great importance on precisely timing and executing your passes in coverage. Each pass attempt comes with a meter indicating its success level based on the quarterback’s rating, pressure, angle, and pass type. Overextending the button press to force a bullet pass can drastically affect accuracy. Even if the pass is catchable, the receiver might need to adjust mid-air to secure it, resulting in fewer yards gained instead of a touchdown.

In ideal circumstances, a quarterback attempting to throw a pass to a post-routing wide receiver should aim to bypass any nearby linebackers, delivering the ball right in front of the receiver for a stride-running catch. However, if I were to underestimate the force required and press the button too lightly, the ball might lose momentum, enabling the defender to close the gap and disrupt the play. Alternatively, throwing the ball too low poses the risk of an interception by the linebacker. If my timing isn’t spot-on, even a successful catch could result in the receiver stumbling and falling down.

With sufficient repetition, you’ll get the hang of it. Even after making the correct call and setting up your teammate for a reception, there’s still a good chance for errors in executing the pass. It might be disheartening if you anticipate mastering an Air Raid offense right away, but I found the complexity to be exhilarating. Completing major plays adds an extra sense of triumph.

As a long-time fan of football video games, I’ve seen my fair share of advancements and changes over the years. But let me tell you, this latest update to the game has really thrown me for a loop!

As a seasoned Madden NFL player with years of experience under my belt, I’ve recently taken on the challenge of mastering the new offense mechanics in the latest game release. It’s been a humbling experience – one that requires patience and dedication to perfect. However, I’m determined not to let my pride be shattered. The defense, on the other hand, feels like an entirely different beast.

I’ve been on a bit of a learning journey when it comes to playing against AI opponents in video games. I’ve made some progress, but my defense game still needs work. When I go online, even against relatively average opponents, I find myself giving up over 250 rushing yards. It’s frustrating, I know.

In the College Football 25 game, you can choose among five primary modes: Play Now, Dynasty, Road to Glory, Ultimate Team, and Road to the College Football Playoff. The last one, Road to the CFP, is the online ranked play mode, which I’ve had the least experience with. Instead, most of my game time has been dedicated to Dynasty, Road to Glory, and Ultimate Team.

For decades, EA’s college football collection has relied heavily on the dynasty mode. In this setting, users have the freedom to establish their own coaching identity, assemble a staff, manage schedules, scout and sign promising recruits, and ultimately assume control of a university’s football program.

An aspect where EA aimed to enhance and enrich coaching abilities in FIFA is noticeable. Similar to past versions, coaches can advance and acquire new skills by fulfilling specific recruitment or in-game targets. In earlier games, most players tended to focus solely on maximizing their coach’s recruiting tree. However, the reality was that there was essentially only one way to develop a coach, and after a few seasons, it was possible to complete the entire skill tree. A more engaging and diverse approach could be: EA has made coaching skills more intricate and multifaceted in FIFA, as before, coaches can progress by meeting certain objectives related to recruitment or gameplay. However, unlike previous editions, there was usually a one-size-fits-all approach to coach development, resulting in most players focusing on maximizing their recruiting tree. Now, with more possibilities for skill acquisition and growth, the coaching experience is more dynamic and engaging.

As a football manager sim game enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the latest update that allows me to choose among various coach archetypes. These range from master recruiters, tacticians, or motivators. It’s exciting to mix and match skills from different trees to create my unique coaching style. Moreover, I can hire coordinators with their distinct skill sets. The decision is mine on whether to focus solely on my strengths or build a more balanced team. Personally, I’ve discovered that non-recruiting buffs like the tactician have been incredibly helpful when reviving struggling programs. I appreciate the newfound flexibility in managing my football program.

Paraphrasing: The recruiting process has grown more complex than before. Instead of merely identifying potential athletes, coaches now need to consider their preferences as well. These may include playing time, campus ambiance, and coach reputation. This deeper connection with recruits makes winning the competition more satisfying. However, attracting talents to less renowned institutions is proving to be a greater challenge than before. Regardless of your team’s performance or the won championship in the first year, you can hardly expect more than one top-rated high school recruit to join your team right away. Similar to real-life situations.

In college video game design, the hiring process faces a significant challenge: striking the balance between realism and enjoyment. In actuality, players would find managing a roster in an identical fashion to Power Four coaches utterly unappealing. They’d dislike the underhanded salary management through external groups, the constant oversight of 19-year-olds, the endless texting to teenagers, and so on. This game streamlines certain elements to ensure amusement, though purists might long for a more Football Manager-esque experience.

In my experience with Dynasty so far, I’ve noticed that the simulation could use improvement in generating diverse outcomes. For instance, in my latest game (where I introduced a coach named Dallan McRomneyson to lead Utah State), Notre Dame, Florida State, and Clemson all began with losing records. It seems high-ranked teams are dropping games more frequently than usual, resulting in unexpected College Football Playoff contenders like UMass Minutemen, and Georgia Bulldogs preparing for the Autozone Liberty Bowl instead.

In this alternate version, the “Road to Glory” experience offers a more accelerated tempo for players, enabling them to assume the role of a college athlete and juggle academic, social, and athletic commitments. Some fans were dismayed when EA eliminated the high school football aspect of the mode. However, I personally appreciate the adjustment as it allows for a career completion in approximately 20 hours. The resource management element and an extensive collection of scenarios with randomized responses result in distinct gameplay experiences each time.

Initially, I had a talented five-star running back from Rhode Island whom I nicknamed Chuck Steak. I planned to enroll him at Stanford University, providing him with an immediate opportunity to play while requiring him to dedicate sufficient effort towards his studies to maintain academic eligibility. The player development model doesn’t permit creating a 99-overall superstar by week 7 of the freshman year. However, he could achieve impressive statistics as an upperclassman if he managed to stay injury-free.

Playing the game could be dismaying if you’re not on a strong team or don’t have a coach who trusts you fully. For instance, trying to throw a pass without a protective offensive line can be quite challenging! Similarly, relying solely on handoffs as a quarterback while your coach ignores other play options isn’t an ideal situation. However, it is essential to remember that performing like Broken Leg Greg Jennings consistently in real life is not common.

I’ve been happily surprised by Ultimate Team, even if others might not share my interest in this game mode. For me, it served as a great way to learn the new playbooks and mechanics, allowing players to take on simple challenges and get accustomed to the distinct differences between formations like Air Raid and Veer. The abundance of single-player content and an extensive library of potential cards, which feature current college football stars, NFL players, and legendary college athletes, make it an engaging and expansive experience.

In my experience as a fan, I didn’t feel compelled to purchase cards or points to accomplish solo objectives right away. However, I don’t harbor ambitions of being a top-tier online competitor. Based on past AAA sports games and their Ultimate Team modes, it seems challenging, if not near impossible, for someone who hasn’t spent any money to consistently rank high in online play over the course of a year.

College Football 25 isn’t perfect. But neither is real-life college football.

I’ve spent my entire life as a passionate fan of high school football, watching with excitement as young athletes took to the field and gave their all. But when I made the transition to college football, something felt off. I was disappointed and disillusioned by what I saw.

Despite its imperfections and flaws, it’s stunningly beautiful and enjoyable for us – Ohio State was where I went, not the Chicago Bears. Memories of ringing the victory bell and sitting in the press box flood back, igniting a sense of pride within me every time I witness the Dotting of the I, rooted deeply in my personal history.

Fans haven’t only sought after playing a football simulation with a team dressed in Scarlet and Gray uniforms rather than Orange and Brown ones. They’ve aimed to recreate that sense of connection. In my opinion, EA Sports College Football 25 succeeds in achieving this.

The video game in question still has room for improvement. Some issues, such as the absence of certain uniforms and display bugs, may be addressed promptly. However, more complex problems like the simulation logic or defensive AI might take more time to resolve. There’s no shortage of potential enhancements for the development team to consider when creating next year’s edition.

Being an avid fan of college football and a seasoned gamer, I have played my fair share of sports games. But let me tell you, this game stands out from the rest. It’s not just another title cranked out in a few months by a team that barely cares about the sport or its culture. No, this game is a labor of love from developers who truly understand and appreciate college football.

Over the past ten years, I would have enjoyed having college football video games. However, this specific version is what we’re discussing now.

This was worth the wait.

Matt Brown serves as the publisher for “Extra Points,” a newsletter delving into business, policy, and behind-the-scenes stories within the college sports industry. Since 2021, he has dedicated extensive coverage to the evolution of EA Sports College Football, earning him a mention in the game’s credits. Prior to this role, Matt was the associate director for college team brands at SB Nation, an esteemed sports website. He resides in Chicago.

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2024-07-19 18:20