The wait for a real college football video game is almost over. EA Sports recently revealed the content of its highly anticipated College Football 25 title. Drops on July 19th.He then shared the trailer Here's some gameplay footage and some minor details That should make fans even more excited.
As with any release in the sports game genre, it's always interesting to see what the developers think about the teams included. “College Football 25” is a particularly difficult endeavor. The EA Sports team is tasked with quantifying relative team quality, assigning numbers to the 134 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision and well over 10,000 players.
Overall team ratings are typically based on player averages, so teams with more skilled athletes, in this case teams filled with former blue-chip prospects, will have higher overall ratings.
So it's possible to predict the direction EA Sports will take in evaluating the teams for College Football 25. If history is any indication, players and teams rate him on a scale of 0-99, with the typical average being him in the high 70s or low 80s.
Teams with an overall rating of 99 are rare, but we've seen a few, such as Alabama in NCAA Football 14 (the last college football video game title).
With all that in mind, here are our predictions for the 10 highest-rated teams in College Football 25.
Oklahoma — 91 overall
attack: 90 | defense: 92
Oklahoma State certainly has enough talent to make some noise in its first year as an SEC program. The Sooners' success will depend on the development of new starting quarterback Jackson-Arnold, a former five-star recruit who didn't play much last year. For Arnold, it helps that the University of Oklahoma has great skill talent at its disposal. Wide receiver Nick Anderson is a touchdown machine, and Purdue transfer Deion Burks could emerge as one of the best playmakers in the country. However, the Sooners are hampered by an offensive line that must replace all five starting pitchers. Defensively, Oklahoma has two All-American candidates in Ethan Downs and Danny Stutzman, as well as a solid secondary with plenty of veterans.
Michigan — 92 overall
attack: 87 | defense: 96
Michigan will need to replace 13 NFL draft picks and other key departures from the 2023 team that went 15-0 and won the national championship. Many of those losses were on offense, with marquee players like quarterback JJ McCarthy, running back Blake Colm and receiver Roman Wilson leaving. Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards, a cover player on College Football 25, is likely to get a high initial rating, and projected starting QB Alex Orsi is a good player to play with given his athletic ability. It might be fun. But Michigan's defense is carrying a lot of water here. The Wolverines still have plenty of potential draft picks on that side of the ball. Defensive lineman Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson lead the way as bona fide first-rounders.
Pennsylvania State University — 92 overall
attack: 89 | defense: 95
Penn State's offense is a little more advanced than Michigan's, at least in terms of experience. Former five-star prospect Drew Allard is back at quarterback after a rocky first season as a starter. If all else fails, the Nittany Lions can ride on one of the nation's best running back tandems in Nicholas Singleton and Caitron Allen. Both are sure to be rated at least in the high 80s. The wide receiver position is a concern, to say the least, and with Olu Fashanu gone, the offensive line has a bigger role to play. It will be interesting to see how Abdul Carter, a versatile defender with a background as an off-ball linebacker, positions himself as a defensive end now that he's playing the chop Robinson role.
Ole Miss — 93 overall
attack: 94 | defense: 92
Ole Miss would be an interesting option in this game just because of all the transfers that need a role. Lane Kiffin, the self-proclaimed “Portal King,” lived up to his name this offseason by attacking the market to improve his entire team. That's especially true on defense, where the Rebels overhauled their secondary and secured the services of Walter Nolen, a transfer from the Texas A&M defensive line. He could play Sunday and should be one of the highest-ranked linemen on “College Football 25.” Although there is no transfer this year, QB Jackson Dart returns for his third year as a starter. Having a receiver like Tre Harris would make things easier for him.
Notre Dame — 94th overall
attack: 91 | defense: 97
Duke quarterback Riley Leonard was once touted as a first-round prospect, but recent injuries have hampered his professional potential. When healthy, he gives the Fighting Irish great rushing ability with arm strength. But Notre Dame's defense is the real star of the show. Coach Marcus Freeman has built a solid secondary with two All-Stars in cornerback Benjamin Morrison and safety Xavier Watts (2023 Bronko Nagurski Award winner). Those two things alone make it extremely difficult for opposing offenses to move the ball through the air, both in real life and on College Football 25.
/ Getty Images
Alabama — 94 overall
attack: 94 | defense: 93
This may not be the Alabama team we expect given Nick Saban's retirement, but former Washington coach Karen DeBoer still has a roster that has the makings of an SEC contender. is inherited. Quarterback Jalen Milroe seems to specialize in video games with his incredible athleticism and live-wire arm. Once a bit of a concern, the offensive line has been reinvigorated with the return of former five-star prospect and 247Sports No. 1 player in the transfer rankings, Kadin Proctor. Alabama has a great linebacker tandem in Deonte Lawson and Jihad Campbell, but the Crimson Tide has back-to-back first-rounders Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner, making them a pass-rushing superpower. Lacking a star. Transfers like Domani Jackson (USC) and Keon Sabu (Michigan State) bring a lot of benefit to a secondary that needs to replace a ton of production.
Texas — 95 overall
attack: 97 | defense: 93
Texas starter and EA Sports cover athlete Quinn Ewers will be at least one of the two highest-rated quarterbacks in the game. Wide receiver Isaiah Bonds, offensive tackle Kelvin Banks and running back CJ Baxter are likely to join that top group. The Longhorns have a lot of offensive power. The defense also has good upside, with good safeties and a balanced group of linebackers. On the downside, with Terrence Brooks' recent decision to transfer to Illinois, the Texans will be losing two NFL draft picks along the defensive line (Tyvondre Sweat and Byron Murphy) and starting lineman Byron Murphy. Two cornerbacks need to be replaced.
Oregon — 96 overall
attack: 96 | defense: 95
Oregon State is well-positioned to win the Big Ten title in the conference's first year. The Ducks may have a smooth transition at quarterback from 2024 first-round pick Bo Nix to Oklahoma State transfer Dillon Gabriel, who has accumulated nearly 15,000 passing yards in his career. He's a perfect fit for what the Ducks want to do offensively. Wide receiver Evan Stewart, who transferred from Texas A&M, will be featured on “College Football 25.” He headlines a great group of wideouts that also includes Tez Johnson, who holds Oregon's single-season receptions record (86). Coach Dan Lanning has built a great defense with ready-made playmakers like former Washington cornerback Jabbar Muhammad and former Kansas State safety Kobe Savage.
Ohio State University — 97 overall
attack: 95 | defense: 99
Ohio State's new offense, led by offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, brings an inside zone rushing scheme that is primarily about hitting the rock. Luckily, the Buckeyes have the right people to do it. Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins does his best work between the tackles, while Treveyon Henderson is a one-cut runner who can turn an inch of space into a big gain. His QB transfer Will Howard's power running to Kansas State University adds an extra dimension to his style and, if translated properly, would be unique to utilize on “College Football 25” .
Defenders are in a different stratosphere. There are no holes from top to bottom. The cornerback room features a list of players selected in the conference, led by Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock and Denzel Burke. Caleb Downs, a safety transfer to the University of Alabama, is an All-American as a freshman and already looks like the best back-end player in the game despite his relative youth. Add in a defensive line anchored by Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimorow at the ends, and you have an embarrassing amount of wealth at your disposal on that side of the ball.
Georgia — 98 overall
attack: 98 | defense: 99
Few coaches know how to build a roster like Kirby Smart. He's been something of a recruiting machine since he was hired to replace Mark Richt in 2016, and there's a clear reason why the Bulldogs are consistently in the mix for national titles. Quarterback Carson Beck was a relative unknown this time last year, but his poise and talent with his arm have made him one of the best players in college football. He has an underrated group of wide receivers, a dynamic backfield with the thunder-and-lightning combo of Roderick Robinson II and Trevor Etienne, and arguably the best offensive line in America. And what else can we say about Georgia's defense at this point? The Bulldogs acquire elite defenders at an absurd clip and always reload, no matter how many losses they suffer during the offseason.
