Jackson Arnold calls playing EA College Football 25 'surreal'

The launch of EA Sports’ much-awaited College Football 25 video game has been a watershed moment for many college football players who have been dreaming of this for a long time. Like Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold.

Arnold has gotten a chance to get behind the sticks and manage his offense in a different way than he will this fall.

“We actually played on the plane ride here today, me and Danny (Stutsman) did,” Jackson Arnold said at SEC Media Days. “Honestly, it’s really surreal playing the game.”

The Oklahoma quarterback is one of the highest-rated players for the Sooners in the game, sporting an 85 overall grade. He’ll be one of the more fun players to play with in the game, as he’s got some definite scrambling ability.

But the surreal aspect for Arnold is simply playing with his own likeness in the game.

“I grew up playing NCAA 14 with my friends and my cousins,” Arnold said. “Seeing I’m in the game and I’m able to play as my character now, it’s really special.”

Jackson Arnold, of course, will turn his attention quickly to the non-virtual gridiron with fall camp fast approaching. Oklahoma has lofty ambitions.

Brent Venables on why OU can compete in SEC

There’s one simple reason Oklahoma coach Brent Venables feels his team can compete in the SEC. They’re ready to get after it in the trenches.

As part of his appearance on the SEC Network set at SEC Media Days, Venables was asked about the roster turnaround since he arrived and what gives him confidence the Sooners can compete in the league in Year 1.

“Well, it’s a lot of things, you know, what I feel good about,” Venables answered. “It has been a roster transformation. Within the first 15 months, we lost 75 scholarship players. That’s a lot. I’m not complaining, that’s just what it has been. So, in a perfect world, for us to get the roster where you ideally want it, you’re going to have continuity, you’re going to have stability, certainly, you’re going to have the competitive depth, starting with the trenches.”

That theme of building from the line of scrimmage and then out is big for Venables as he continues to construct his ideal vision in Norman.

“This is a league that’s going to challenge you there. To me, that’s like the jugular,” Venables said. “If you want to compete at the highest level and be able to sustain week in and week out, you’re going to be challenged there and you got to win in that space more than you lose. That’s the challenge.”

Will that improvement in the trenches be enough for Jackson Arnold to get the offense firing on all cylinders and lead the Sooners to the playoff? Luckily we don’t have to wait much longer to find out.

On3’s Alex Weber also contributed to this report.