Highlights
- College Football 25 will feature all 134 FBS teams, 12-team playoff, and bowl games.
- EA Sports revealed that opt-in FBS players will receive $600 and a free game copy, with potential for lucrative NIL deals.
- Real-life coaches like Dabo Swinney won't be featured, but EA is exploring ways to include them in future titles.
EA Sports College Football 25 has shared more details about its development, including how participating student-athletes are paid and whether real-life coaches are featured. This news comes after EA Sports College Football 25 recently unveiled its first trailer.
Last week, College Football 25's trailer revealed its logo, reveal month, and some of the schools that will be featured in the game. Unfortunately, the teaser did not show any gameplay but did confirm that a full reveal is coming later this year in May, ahead of the game's release sometime this summer. Following College Football 25's initial announcement years ago, some wondered how EA would approach the use of real-life college athletes.
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A report from ESPN revealed EA's strategy for rewarding players who opt-in to being featured in College Football 25. Any FBS player can opt-in, and those who do will receive a payment of $600 and a free copy of the game. EA further explained that certain players will have the potential to sign more lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals with the company. EA also revealed that real-life coaches will not be featured in College Football 25. This means that generic characters will replace recognizable figures like Dabo Swinney, Deion Sanders, and Kirby Smart on the sideline. However, EA confirmed that it's working on ways to allow coaches to opt-in in future titles. This year's game does not have an exact release date yet, but previous rumors may have hinted at when fans can expect College Football 25 to debut.
What Schools Will Be In EA Sports College Football 25?
The new report revealed plenty more details about College Football 25, including that it will feature all 134 FBS teams, the new 12-team playoff format, and all bowl games. This comes as big news for college football fans, who weren't sure whether legal issues would impact College Football 25's lineup of schools. However, fans of FCS programs are out of luck for now, although EA confirmed that it's working on ways to include these schools in future games.
EA further explained that although College Football 25 will run on the same engine as the somewhat controversial Madden franchise, the new game will have its own distinct look and feel. As part of development for College Football 25, EA gathered sounds, stadium renderings, photos, and more to replicate each stadium's experience as accurately as possible. Each stadium will incorporate details like on-field statues and trophies and will even have accurate seats.
