Electronic Arts has confirmed the release date for EA Sports College Football 25, announcing it will launch on July 19. The game will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with no plans for a Windows PC version.
The cover for this year’s installment will feature three current college athletes: Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers, Colorado Buffaloes receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, and Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards. This marks the first time that active college athletes have been featured on the cover of an EA Sports game. Given the updated post-2021 policy landscape in college sports, these athletes will be compensated for their contributions. They have already engaged in promotional activities, including sponsored Instagram posts through the official EA Sports College Football account.
The development of the game has been managed by EA Tiburon, the same studio responsible for the Madden NFL series. Despite the absence of a PC version, anticipation remains high as fans have eagerly awaited the return of this beloved franchise. It was shelved over a decade ago under the name NCAA Football due to class-action lawsuits claiming EA, the NCAA, and the Collegiate Licensing Company profited from the use of athletes’ likenesses without proper compensation.
A pivotal point came in 2014 when EA settled for $60 million, distributing payouts to thousands of former players who were featured in the game. Subsequent litigation led to the Supreme Court’s unanimous 2021 decision in NCAA v. Alston, declaring the NCAA’s compensation limits for athletes illegal. This opened the door for the NCAA’s interim NIL policy, allowing athletes to sign endorsement deals.
Though rebranded from its previous NCAA Football name to EA Sports College Football, the upcoming game retains its signature elements of college football pageantry and authenticity. According to EA, College Football 25 will include 134 colleges and universities from the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision, complete with authentic uniforms, mascots, and stadiums. Thanks to the new NIL regulations, more than 10,000 collegiate athletes, including the cover stars, have agreed to appear in the game. Each will receive a minimum payment of $600 along with a copy of the game.
More information on College Football 25, including a full trailer, will be released on Friday.
