If you’re anything like me, then you are super-excited for the return of the college football video game.
The series, which used to be called “NCAA Football” has been rebranded as “EA Sports College Football.”
Gone for over a decade due to NIL issues, the series is making its long-awaited return and will officially hit the shelfs in July.
EA Sports recently released a trailer for the game – and needless to say, the degree of quality and realism is absolutely off the charts…
Nearly every single player in the country has “opted in” to the game, meaning their name and likeliness is included in the game. (Unfortunately, Texas quarterback Arch Manning is one of the very few players who did not opt in.)
I have to admit, I was one of those lunatics who spent countless hours manually editing rosters to give players their real names … After all, we can’t have Dallas Clark being referred to as “TE #44.”
Speaking of likeliness, the vast majority of players are blown away with how realistic the game looks and how accurately they are portrayed.
Majority does not equal everyone, however.
Clemson offensive lineman Walker Parks is not too thrilled with how he looks in the game and he was not shy to speak out about it.
The 6-foot-5, 310-pound fifth-year senior is a large man … But not nearly as large (and out-of-shape) as how EA Sports portrayed him in the recently-released trailer…
“Come on man I ainβt that big,” Parks posted on social media.
(In fairness, he has an extremely valid point!)
Parks’ inaccurate portrayal is one of the few complaints about the trailer.
The other head-scratcher, which is either humorous or infuriating depending on your fandom, is the fact that the trailer consistently roasted Ohio State.
(Word is a Michigan fan played a large part in the making of the trailer.)
Parks, who missed a significant portion of the 2023 season due to injury, has been a cornerstone of Clemson’s offensive line.
With 37 total appearances and a history of stellar performances, Parks’ impact on the field is undeniable.
He’s aiming to reclaim his starting spot at right guard for the Tigers who are attempting to regain their status among the nation’s elite.
With the playoff field finally expanding to 12-teams, head coach Dabo Swinney has high hopes for the coming season and believes his squad has a fighting chance for the title.
“It’s gonna be fun. Embrace it,” Swinney recently said.
“I mean, it’s one of those things we were talking about earlier, things happen. You adapt as you go. We didn’t have a playoff and then it was, whatever, BCS. And then you get the four-team (format), and now we’re going to 12 for a cup of coffee and then we’re going somewhere else. So, it’ll be fun.”
What else will be fun is EA Sports College Football 25.
Kirk Herbstreit in many ways is the “voice of college football,” and he – along with Chris Fowler, Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, and David Pollack – have spent hours laying down audio for the game.
There’s no such thing as a “sure thing” – But if there ever was, it would be that College Football 25 is going to be an enormous success.
What are your thoughts on the return of the college football video game?
Are you as excited as I am? … Or are you in the small camp of people who simply do not give a crap?
How about Parks? … Does he have a right to upset about his unfortunate (yet hilarious) portrayal???