EA Sports College Football 25 drops official reveal trailer, details on gameplay
A day after announcing the release date for the upcoming EA Sports College Football 25 video game, fans got their first glimpse at the actual game.
The video game company dropped the official reveal trailer on YouTube at 11 a.m. ET on Friday morning. The franchise has been dormant for more than a decade and is slated to be released on July 19. College football fans have waited nearly 11 years for the game’s return since it last hit shelves in 2013.
EA unveiled the cover for the game on Thursday, marking the first time current athletes are featured. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter and Michigan running back Donovan Edwards are all featured. The game will also include all 134 FBS teams and the name, image and likeness of current players.
Available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, EA announced gamers will have three editions to pick from. The standard base game costs $69.99. The deluxe edition allows three-day early access and a slew of perks, priced at $99.99. The MVP bundle is priced at $149.99 and includes an early release for EA Sports College Football 25 and Madden. The video game will not be offered on PC.
“It’s just a blessing to be able to be on the cover,” Hunter told ESPN. “We grew up watching this and looking at the covers, and now we’re on it. When I was young, I waited till 12 o’clock to get every NCAA. It was my favorite game by far. I still play the old NCAA 14 to this day.”
Every player in the game will receive $600 plus a copy of the game. Cover athletes and other college football stars who promote the game have inked endorsement deals with EA. A group of college athletes – male and female – have inked endorsement deals with the company to promote the game. The cover athletes also signed separate contracts with the EA.
Over 12,800 athletes have opted into the game, which is significantly more than the number of roster slots. EA previously announced its goal of fielding an 85-man roster for every 134 FBS team. The original EA college football video game franchise ran from 1998 until 2013. Moving from the Bill Walsh College Football moniker to NCAA Football, the annual game was eventually discontinued. Lawsuits emerged, most notably former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and 19 others’ decision to sue the NCAA, arguing the organization violated United States antitrust laws by not allowing athletes to make a share of the revenues generated from the use of their in broadcasts and video games.
Full breakdown of gameplay
Dynasty Mode is back. Players can create a coach, pick one of the 134 FBS schools in the game and build up a program. Recruiting will include high school and transfer portal recruits. Gamers can also create a new school through teambuilder.
As expected, Road To Glory is also making the return. Players can create an individual player and live the college experience. Similar to past games, players will manage weekly schedules, GPA and image. Coach Trust will be imperative for playing time. And in a new wrinkle, players can enter the transfer portal.
A new mode included in the game is Road To The College Football Playoff, an online format playable across consoles.
“Will you represent your university, or take a power school to climb the polls?” EA wrote in its press release. “Earn rank by upsetting the toughest opponents and securing the votes you need to progress and level up divisions. Play your way into the playoffs and battle for the national championship.”
Ultimate Team will also be available. Players can build teams with current stars and legends of the game.
The new game also comes with an in-game feature called “CampusIQ” including the “Wear & Tear System.” Per EA, “As the hits add up, players wear down with the Wear & Tear System. Manage your players’ health, limit fatigue, assess risk of injury, and avoid on-field mistakes by using strategic substitutions to ensure your players are at their best with it counts the most.”
Home-field advantage is also back. Players will be able to test their squad’s road game composure and confidence levels with distractions like screen shaking, missing pre-play icons, and moving play art.
What else to expect in EA Sports College Football 25?
The National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) declined an offer to be in the game, meaning the Bednarik, Biletnikoff, Davey O’Brien, Doak Walker, Grozo, Jim Thorpe, Maxwell, Outland and Ray Guy awards will not be featured. The Heisman Trophy, which is operated by the Heisman Trust, will be included in the game.
In a teaser trailer released this winter, EA showed development images of the gates at Beaver Stadium, the Gator head that Florida players touch when running onto the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Notre Dame players touching the “Play Like A Champion” sign.
EA also announced the ESPN broadcast crew, which includes Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler, among others. ESPN also has a halftime crew and the College GameDay crew featured. Schools have submitted thousands of assets to EA since development began roughly three years ago. Stadium photos, jerseys, fight songs, traditions and more.