College football fans could not be more ecstatic for the release of EA Sports College Football 25 this summer. It will be the first officially licensed college football video game to be released since NCAA Football 14 came out in the summer of 2013.
Lawsuits over the use of player likenesses without compensation, in an era where player compensation wasn't allowed by the NCAA, put an end to the beloved video game series after 2013. But now through NIL, players can finally profit off their likeness, which opened the door for the game to return.
After a decade of waiting, EA Sports is bringing the series back with EA Sports College Football 25 coming out just a few months from now. And on Friday, fans learned what one of the covers for the new game will be.
The PlayStation Store unveiled the Deluxe Edition cover for the game, featuring several prominent college football stars.
The deluxe edition cover of EA Sports College Football 25 just dropped⬇️👀 pic.twitter.com/XUropt0Tpy
— On3 (@On3sports) May 10, 2024
Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Michigan RB Donovan Edwards, Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter, Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, Georgia QB Carson Beck, and Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins all made the Deluxe Edition cover. Also featured on the cover are generic players for several programs.
This is the first time that current CFB players are featured on the cover of the game, as in the past, they only used players who had just finished their college careers because of NCAA rules.
It appears this cover release wasn't supposed to happen, however. The official EA Sports College account shared that the unveiling was a surprise to them as well, and fans can expect to see another version of the cover released this coming Thursday, May 16.
Welp, we were surprised too… see both covers next Thursday. pic.twitter.com/5ILQGFBJlx
— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) May 10, 2024
Along with the cover release, fans also got a glimpse of the in-game graphics with this leaked still shot of Notre Dame preparing to run out of the tunnel. You can see how things have progressed since NCAA Football 14 with a look at how the Irish appeared in the 2013 game (top) compared to the new game (bottom).
Notre Dame in NCAA14 vs. Notre Dame in the PlayStation store picture of CFB25. ☘️ pic.twitter.com/KEQ4gdf5OE
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) May 10, 2024
Back in February we received updates about which teams will be included, which broadcast crews will be featured, how playbooks will work for various teams, and how players can join the game. Speaking of players in the game, Matt Brown of Extra Points, who's been one of the top reporters on the development of EA Sports College Football 25, reported that more than 12,800 players opted-in to be included in the game.
In case this is a thing the TL cares about, the streets are telling me that the final "opt-in" athlete numbers for EA CFB 25 were "over 12,800"...which is obviously well, well above the total number of roster slots.
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) May 9, 2024
Folks don't need to worry about athletes not being in the game
What's left to learn? Well as stated above, EA Sports will be unveiling both official covers next week, and hopefully, they'll announce the official trailer and release date for the game. It's an exciting time for CFB fans. The game we love is finally on the verge of being back!