It’s been nearly a decade since college football fans could boot up their Xboxes, Playstations or PCs, grab a controller and halfback angle their way to a national title. EA Sports gave up its annual release of NCAA Football after the 2014 edition — so long ago the cover athlete was Michigan star Denard Robinson.
Concerns about student athlete compensation rights in the aftermath of Ed O’Bannon’s Supreme Court win over the NCAA in 2015 effectively shuttered the series. But with name, image and likeness rules now allowing players to monetize their college careers, a pathway was created to allow the beloved franchise to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Specifically the kind of phoenix that runs the option and takes Ball State to the national championship.
Years of speculation have finally given way to a concrete announcement. While the name has changed from “NCAA Football” to “College Football,” EA’s back in the game — and the next installment comes out this summer.
Yeah, It’s really happening! Coming this summer. Full reveal in May #CFB25 pic.twitter.com/yMMXz7OeR8
— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) February 15, 2024
Fans were excited enough to watch the teaser — which features zero actual gameplay — 1.5 million times in the first half hour the post was online. This was merely a puddle in a desert of college football video gaming, and folks bathed in it like an oasis. And hell, if it means I get a chance to guide Vanderbilt football to an SEC championship, I’m ready to dive in myself.
