While EA Sports College Football 25 is likely to prove an enigma for anyone outside of America, the PS5 game is already well on its way to becoming one of 2024’s best-sellers in the USA. Its release ends a decade-long wait for a new licensed NCAA title, after a protracted legal dispute pertaining to the likenesses of players slammed the series in an ice bath. But with all of the paperwork filed and an extended development cycle behind it, does this long-awaited outing deliver – or drop the ball?
It’s absolutely not a Madden NFL clone, that’s for sure. This game has been built from the ground-up, with all-new mechanics and systems to set it apart from its big brother. That all starts with a frankly mind-blowing 134 teams, each presented with their own unique customs, traditions, and pageantry. Across those schools, you’ll find over 10,000 real-life players, each augmented with unique abilities to help reflect their personal playstyle.
But perhaps most importantly of all, a wealth of different schemes and playbooks are included to test your football acumen. The college game, more so than the high-stakes professional league, is known for its creative offenses and big blowouts. You’ll find all of that to explore in an insanely deep Dynasty mode, which sees you assume the role of head coach (or coordinator) at your academic institution of choice. Lifting the coveted Heisman Trophy is your ultimate goal.
And you’ll do that through a heady mix of on-field action and spreadsheet exploration. Each season you’ll create a shortlist of prospects to track, and you’ll then need to spend points to scout and woo them. Players have personalities – some want to stay closer to home, others want to be starters straight away – and so you’ll need to determine how much energy you want to dedicate to get a player into your programme. Even the best laid plans occasionally crumble, and that’s part of the fun.
Making do with what you’ve got, or finding that final piece to push your team to the title, is among some of the most gratifying gameplay you can find in the genre. And that’s all before you step foot onto the field, where a new throwing mechanic requires you to be precise with your timing or run the risk of getting picked off with ease. There’s a level of difficulty to the experience that just doesn’t exist in other sports game, but that’s what makes it so satisfying when you succeed.
We should mention that all of this is tied to a player health system which is as brutal as it is authentic. For example, if your star quarterback takes a shot to the shoulder, they may find their throwing power severely diminished. This will change your in-game strategy, as you look to find shorter throws to compensate – or alternatively lean on your running back, and try to pick gaps in an increasingly stodgy defence. You have much more flexibility to fine-tune your play at the line of scrimmage, which opens up a wealth of options.
This is anchored by some of the best sports game presentation you’ll find on the PS5: brass bands stomp around the field in the minutes before kick-off, mascots hype up onlookers from the sidelines, and a neat picture-in-picture playcalling screen expertly finds the right balance between form and function. The pageantry, as good as it is, can get a little tedious when you’re seeing some of the same scenes for the seventh time, but with so many teams included, that’s a small criticism overall.
That said, this isn’t a perfect package by any stretch. The Road to Glory mode, which sees you assume the role of a single player on the path to college football greatness, serves its purpose as an RPG-style campaign, but it lacks the context and storylines needed to make you feel truly connected to your player. You can choose your position, background, and abilities – but it doesn’t feel like a whole lot of love has gone into this mode, and it feels a little bit like it exists purely because it has to.
The same is true of Ultimate Team, which seems understated and superfluous here. Structurally, it’s almost identical to Madden NFL, with a list of single player challenges to complete, multiplayer matches, and packs to purchase. But outside of the inclusion of some legends of the game, the appeal doesn’t feel the same without a constant procession of superstars to pull for. The mode is functionally fine, but we’re not sure why anyone would choose to play here with Dynasty fulfilling most team-building needs.
We should also mention that while there is the ability to customise the game to your tastes, you can’t actually edit players, presumably for legal reasons. There’s also no way to export your college contingent to Madden NFL 25, a feature that was supremely popular in previous NCAA titles, enabling some synergy between the two releases. We’re sure this will be added in subsequent sequels, but it’s not currently available as things stand now.
Conclusion
The ten-year wait for EA Sports College Football 25 has been worth it, with its all-encompassing Dynasty mode likely to prove an obsession for some football fans. Great gameplay paired with a deep spreadsheet simulator makes this one of the most fun and fresh sports games in eons, and it’s backed up by some stellar presentation, too. Ultimate Team feels superfluous, and Road to Glory could do with more time in the oven, but as far as comebacks go, this is one for the ages – even if it’s mere existence is likely to bemuse practically everyone outside of America.
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Comments 37
Now make a new Fight Night please. PS3 was a long time ago.
I’ve been tempted almost every day to buy this. You’re making my resistance more difficult. I’m trying to hold off until the inevitable Black Friday sales but I know I’ll cave in soon 😭😭😭😭
@Splat I would pay the $69.99 just to play as Butterbean and Tyson again. That game was amazing back in the day.
I've actually pretty disappointed with it. The longer you play you see the issues. Defense for one is just flat out broke. Blown coverages constantly, defenders standing still while a RB runs right by them, etc. Makes me want to go back to NCAA 14 honestly
Bring British it's a bit hard to understand why college football is such a big deal in the states. Is it a bit like (compared to our football/soccer) where your college team is your local team, like club football is to us and the NFL team is almost like our national team because the country is so vast?
Overall I'm enjoying it but it isn't as nearly as polished or innovative as I thought it would be. I'm definitely enjoying it more than any Madden I've tried over the last few years. It almost seems like they held back so they could have things to showcase in the coming years.
@AdamNovice College football has a lot of traditions, history and stadium atmosphere specific to each school which I'd say is what's most similar to club football. I'd rather go to a CFB game before an NFL game just for the vibe. The first college football game was played in 1869 and for years college football I'd say was more popular than professional football. The NFL started in 1920, but I'd say it wasn't until 2000 that the NFL truly became the most popular form of North American football. I'd almost say CFB is still more popular overall due to the number of teams.
@AdamNovice there are only 32 professional American football teams. If you look at where the some of the biggest college football teams are, it’s in places like Nebraska and Alabama. States with no professional teams
@smallbrownbike @AldusRavencorn Thanks for the information guys. So college football gives various communities sports teams that they wouldn't get from the NFL? I can see why it would be a big deal.
@AdamNovice Short season, only play the rivals once a season. Rotate every year from home and away. One loss can destroy the season. Not to bad in the first couple games as it can be recovered but most big college teams play small local colleges for the first 3 games. Now college players are paid couple years back all the excitement came from the players working their draft stock for the nfl. Here are a couple neat videos showing the unmatched atmosphere at least in the US
https://youtu.be/HYuSCk1EFxg?si=xnLVGpT_O0kz91Co
https://youtu.be/YC8LLYMp4M4?si=O_v_yJjs-nfOfWX9
@AldusRavencorn and shout out to my alma mater Rutgers for winning that first game 😎. 1869 National Champs!
The UK equivalent is University Challenge. Or I dunno, being off your face on pills in the union, losing a shoe to the stickiest floor you’ve ever seen and falling asleep in your own sick.
I don't begrudge people getting a great sports sim. Back in the 8 and 16 bit era I'd play sports games because back in those days you played whatever you could. Also...they were fun, and felt good. I don't have much dog in this fight here, but it's difficult to trust reviews from typical outlets on this. So many times, the breadth of microtransaction frickery is barely touched upon. Or to what extent online connections are required. So, basically it's a wait and see how rough all of that nonsense is. This review mentions purchasing packs. That's it. To someone that won't touch a game with a ton of mtx or online requirements, this review is not helpful. Is this a situation where reviewers are not allowed to mention that stuff?
Edit: Yup. Just checking around a bit on Youtube confirms that it's a pay to win situation, with player packs even including NFL players in their college years to entice people to buy packs that cost up to $100. You know! To win! Cool. Hope that is helpful to people that weren't given the game for free.
@LikelySatan you’re right. It does have micro transactions, but they are not needed to enjoy this game. The mode that is most played is dynasty which can be enjoyed in its entirety completely solo and offline. So while it has the inevitable money grabs. Nobody needs to do so to win. Even in Ultimate Team.
To be fair you aren’t trying to win the Heisman trophy in Dynasty. That’s not the ultimate goal. Being national champions is. Heisman is the one as a player in the road to glory/campus legend mode.
Those above saying it’s “pay to win” no it’s not. The cards are in ultimate team like always in madden and fifa and anyone sensible avoids those modes. They don’t affect dynasty or campus legend or single online play.
I’d agree with 8 it’s been a long wait and it’s a great start.
@AdamNovice it's worse than that. College American football is being a fan of watching your school playing the world's most boring sport and actually giving a crap about it.
Rugby for wimps
I jest, great for those that love it and to be fair I would play a UK grass roots football game no doubt.
Absolutely loved Madden on the Mega Drive thinking I was cool doing Hail Mary's and stuff but in reality I had zero idea about what I was doing with all the plays but great times indeed!
Not football. Sorry not sorry 😎
Good to see at least 21% of people voting haven't played it. Either that or they should never be trusted to review anything. Not saying it deserves a good rating as I also haven't played it. But for something to be abysmal it would have to be a thoroughly fundamentally broken game in every aspect
@riceNpea The only thing I'll say about that is that at least the college players are in the colleges they are representing. The NFL is a bunch of players playing for teams from areas/cities they aren't even from. So I guess you're just rooting for the team with the animal mascot you dig the most? Makes zero sense to me.
I WILL say that soccer broadcasts are hilarious to me. They will scream and replay when someone misses a goal like nine times. SOMETHING INTERESTING ALMOST HAPPENED! LET'S WATCH THAT EIGHT MORE TIMES! It is super popular though. Since all you need is a ball. I don't think something like hockey or American football will ever come close to that popularity of soccer because American football is kind of for privileged people. Like hockey, you need a lot of gear to play.
Hows the monetization?
@LikelySatan good points mate. a problem with American sports, all of them, and the reason they don't do well abroad, they have become secondary to TV advertising to the extent that the game itself along with the coverage is just a vehicle for it. Another issue with American Football is that Rugby is a much better game with better flow, more action and more respect.
@species optional. As always. 🤷🏾♂️
“Rocky Marciano?! Rocky Marciano?! Every time a white gotta bring up Rocky Marciano??”
That’s how I feel every time a person has to inject Rugby into a discussion about American football lol. Also, that’s not a racist comment. It’s a reference from a film. Shout out if you know the film! ✌🏾
@riceNpea Yeah the only sport I watch is EVO, lol.
@AhmadSumadi "He beat Joe Louis's ass!''
"That's true, he did whoop Joe Louis's ass..."
Also interesting tidbit you probably knew, but Eddie Murphy played the old white dude in the barber shop too. I think that might be the first time he did the whole "more makeup than man" thing. He said he was sick of just playing Eddie Murphy, so he started doing a lot of costumes and makeup (like Johnny Depp, but I think his motivations are more a method actor thing). Anyway, I recommend Dolemite is my Name, if you are a fan. It's good to see all of them in a film again, and Wesley Snipes is hilarious in it.
@AhmadSumadi if you feel that way about Rugby being mentioned with American Football, mulitply that annoyance by 1000 and imagine how annoying it is to Football fans to have to hear the word Football being associated with American Football 😊
@AhmadSumadi So its same as regular madden?
@riceNpea lol I get it. I’m an American. But was born in Jamaica. I use a lot of British idioms.
@LikelySatan yeah, Eddie and Arsenio played about 10 characters each in Coming To America. Great film! I’ve seen Dolemite. Heck, I don’t think I’ve not seen any Eddie Murphy films. Even Pluto Nash… 😬
It is weird how rude and divisive the comments on this article are. College football is a huge cultural event in the U.S. if you don’t like football or don’t understand why it’s so popular, is the best use of your time really coming to the comments and being negative about it?
@IamJT for my purposes, if they had the information about micro-transactions in the article, we wouldn't need to have that discussion down here.
@LikelySatan Well you criticized the game itself for micro transactions… that is always fair so my observation was not based on your comments. What’s more I generally agree that EA sports games inclusion of a pay to win mode in almost all of its games is at least a little gross.
I remember playing as Bo Jackson on the SNES madden game that was practically a cheat code but you didn’t have to pay for him 🤣
@AdamNovice to understand why college football is such a big deal in the USA. One has to visit or study abroad at a big American university. Saying the American college football atmosphere is very lively is an understatement honestly. American universities are more lively in general compared to how the rest of the world does it. Students really do take pride in their schools mascots and colors. Even big prestigious schools have this closeness about them. Hope that helps give some more context.
@Vaako007 That's interesting, I was aware of how that university sports teams are seen as a big deal but didn't know about the what it means to both students and surrounding communities.
Wait. You can't export/import your Draft Classes into Madden? Maybe they'll release an update for this when Madden is released. That seems like a big oversight otherwise.
@AdamNovice
College football is about 50 years older than the NFL so a generation of families because fans of college teams first.
Also many of the most popular teams are from towns and states without NFL teams.
It’s very much a cultural thing. Typically, rural areas are more often college fans and the major cities are NFL fans. Although alumni that attended colleges can certainly still be fans of college football in the major cities too.
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