It’s been a long 11 years for college football fans.
That’s how long it has been since EA Sports has come out with a college football video game. After the release of “NCAA Football 14” in 2013, years of lawsuits from former college football athletes who argued that their names, images and likenesses (NIL) were used without proper permission or compensation prevented future versions of the game from being released.
However, that began to change in 2021 when the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reversed their longtime stance of not allowing athletes to compensate on their NIL rights following the NCAA v. Alston ruling.
The ruling allowed EA to develop the latest version of their College Football series. After announcing the latest version of the game was coming in February 2021, “EA Sports College Football 25” was released on July 19, 2024. Since then, more than 5 million unique players have bought the game, which has generated $500 million in sales.
The development of the game has brought one of the largest NIL payments seen yet. Every player that chose to be featured in the game received $600 as well as a free copy of the game.
One of those players is sixth-year linebacker Matt Salopek, who said that being featured in the game is a full circle moment for him.
“I thought it was awesome,” Salopek said. “It was something I played growing up, so seeing myself in that game 10 years later was pretty cool to see.”
There were similar thoughts and feelings for the rest of the team, including sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert, who was seen playing the game with Salopek at MAC media days in July.
While being in the game can be cool for the players, it can be even cooler for their families. Senior wide receiver Cade McDonald said that he hasn’t personally played the game yet, but his presence in the game brings pride to his family.
“It’s really a surreal feeling,” McDonald said. “I had a couple of cousins text me and tell me they were getting the game.”
McDonald added that the release of the game has helped with chemistry in the locker room.
“I heard it was a big hit,” McDonald said. “Especially the first week it came out, everyone was talking about it and playing it.”
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That doesn’t just include players, either. McDonald added that wide receiver coach Roy Roundtree has been playing the game and talking about it with the receiving core. McDonald added that he thinks the increased competition on the sticks can translate onto the playing field.
One of the key aspects to the game are the details that go into a gameday experience and atmosphere. All 134 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams featured in the game have their stadium, uniforms, school traditions and fight songs included in the game. Those included details were not lost on the RedHawks.
“I thought the jerseys were very well done,” Salopek said. “The entire stadium atmosphere, especially here at Yager, was super cool to see.”
Salopek further explained that he was impressed by the detail of the stadium, mainly the Athletic Performance Center behind the endzone as well as the fight song being played after Miami scores.
Many of the players were also impressed by the schematics of the game.
“It’s kind of hard to get the playbook exactly right,” Gabbert said. “But I think they did a good job of getting the majority of the things right.”
As the season gets closer and closer and as fall camp continues to ramp up, coaches will continue to worry about distractions that could affect the team. With players not having much free time throughout fall camp and the season, staying disciplined may mean less time spent on Dynasty or Road to Glory modes in the game.
“I could see how it could become a distraction,” McDonald said. “I think now during camp there’s just no time to play it.”
While some see the new game as a distraction, others see opportunity to elevate their game on the field to the next level. During Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis, Ohio State University Buckeye defensive end Jack Sawyer said that head coach Ryan Day told the team playing the game could help them scout and learn about future opponents.
While that seems wild to think about, some RedHawks think it might not be so crazy.
“I think it would be great to look at what players are going to start for them,” Salopek said. “Even in the offense, a lot of those plays that they put in the game are those plays that you see.”
No matter how the new game will be played, it’s bound to continue to resonate among fans of college football. Miami will start its season on Aug. 31, 2024 against the Northwestern University Wildcats, giving the RedHawks little time to enjoy the game before the work for the year begins.
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