Anthony Wilson
The wait for a real college football video game is almost over. EA Sports recently revealed that its highly anticipated title “College Football 25” will be fall on July 19. Then shared a trailer featuring gameplay footage and various small details this 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 of the teams included. “College Football 25” is an especially difficult task. The EA Sports team is tasked with assigning numerical values to 134 Football Bowl Subdivision teams and more than 10,000 athletes to quantify relative team quality.
Overall team rankings are typically based on player averages, so teams with more talented athletes – or in this case, a good collection of former top prospects – will have a higher overall ranking.
It is possible, then, to project the direction that EA Sports will take when it comes to classifying teams for “College Football 25”. If the past is any indication, players and teams will be ranked on a scale of 0 to 99, with the overall average between 70 and 80.
Teams with a 99 overall rating are rare, although we have seen a few – like Alabama in “NCAA Football 14” (the latest college football video game title).
With all that in mind, here is a prediction of the 10 highest-rated teams on “College Football 25.”
Oklahoma – 91 overall
Offense: 90 | Defense: 92
Oklahoma certainly has the talent to make some noise in its first year as an SEC program. The Sooners’ success depends on the development of new starting quarterback Jackson Arnold, a former five-star recruit who played sparingly last year. It helps Arnold that Oklahoma has an impressive crop of talent at its disposal. Wide receiver Nic Anderson is a touchdown machine and Purdue transfer Deion Burks could emerge as one of the best playmakers in the country. But the Sooners are hampered by an offensive line that will have to replace all five starters. Defensively, Oklahoma has two potential All-Americans in Ethan Downs and Danny Stutsman, as well as a well-rounded secondary with plenty of veterans.
Michigan – 92 overall
Offense: 87 | Defense: 96
Michigan has to replace 13 NFL Draft picks and a few other key departures from its 15-0 2023 national championship-winning team. Many of those losses came on offense, where stalwarts like quarterback JJ McCarthy, running back Blake Corum and receiver Roman Wilson were gone. Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards, a “College Football 25” cover athlete, will likely rank well starting, and expected starting QB Alex Orji could be fun to play with given his athletic ability. But Michigan’s defense is carrying a lot of water here. The Wolverines are still loaded with potential draft picks on that side of the ball. Offensive lineman Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson lead the way as true first-rounders.
Penn State – 92 overall
Offense: 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 Allar is back at quarterback after an up-and-down first season as a starter. If all else fails, the Nittany Lions could field one of the best running backs in the country in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Both will certainly be classified at least in the 80s. The wide receiver position is concerning, to say the least, and the offensive line has some big shoes to fill with Olu Fashanu gone. It will be interesting to see how Abdul Carter, a versatile defender with a background as an off-ball linebacker, ranks as a defensive end now that he’s filling Chop Robinson’s role.
Ole Miss – 93 overall
Offense: 94 | Defense: 92
Ole Miss will be an interesting option in the game, especially for all the transfers that need a role. Self-proclaimed “portal king” Lane Kiffin lived up to his name this offseason, hitting the market hard to improve his team in every aspect. This was especially true on defense, where the Rebels overhauled the secondary and secured the services of Texas A&M defensive line transfer Walter Nolen, who was expected to be one of the highest-ranked offensive linemen in the “College Football 25” with an upside to playing at Sundays. Although he didn’t transfer this year, quarterback Jaxson Dart is back for his third year as a starter. Receivers like Tre Harris will make things easier for him.
Notre Dame – 94 overall
Offense: 91 | Defense: 97
Duke quarterback transfer Riley Leonard was once touted as a first-round prospect, but recent injuries have hampered his pro potential. If he’s healthy, he gives the Fighting Irish great running ability with one arm to boot. Notre Dame’s defense is the real star of the show. Coach Marcus Freeman has built a secondary loaded with two stars, cornerback Benjamin Morrison and safety Xavier Watts – winner of the Bronko Nagurski Award in 2023. These two alone will make it very difficult for opposing offenses – both in real life and in “ College Football 25” – move the ball through the air.
Alabama – 94 overall
Offense: 94 | Defense: 93
This may not be the same Alabama team we expected given Nick Saban’s retirement, but former Washington head Kalen DeBoer inherits a lineup that still has the makings of an SEC contender. Quarterback Jalen Milroe seems tailor-made for a video game with his bizarre athletic ability and active arm. Once a minor concern, the offensive line is boosted by the return of Kadyn Proctor, a former five-star prospect and the top player in 247Sports’ transfer rankings. Alabama has a great tandem linebacker in Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell, but the Crimson Tide lacks a star pass rusher after producing back-to-back first-rounders Will Anderson Jr. Transfers like Domani Jackson (USC) and Keon Sabb (Michigan) bring many advantages for a secondary that must replace a ton of production.
Texas – 95 overall
Offense: 97 | Defense: 93
Texas starter and EA Sports cover athlete Quinn Ewers will be, at the very least, one of the two highest-rated quarterbacks in the game. Wide receiver Isaiah Bond, offensive tackle Kelvin Banks and running back CJ Baxter will likely join him in that upper echelon. The Longhorns have a lot of offensive firepower. The defense has its fair share of standouts, with excellent safeties and a well-rounded group of linebackers. On the downside, Texas needs to replace a pair of NFL Draft picks (T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy) along the defensive line and both of its starting cornerbacks following Terrance Brooks’ recent decision to transfer to Illinois.
Oregon – 96 overall
Offense: 96 | Defense: 95
Oregon is well-positioned to challenge for the Big Ten title in its first season in the conference. The Ducks could have a smooth transition at quarterback, moving from 2024 first-round pick Bo Nix to Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel, who has racked up nearly 15,000 yards passing in his career. He’s the perfect fit for what the Ducks like to do offensively. Texas A&M wide receiver transfer Evan Stewart will be awesome to use on “College Football 25”; he headlines a deep group of wideouts that also includes Tez Johnson, who holds the Oregon single-season receptions record (86). Coach Dan Lanning has built a fantastic defense, with instant impact players like former Washington cornerback Jabbar Muhammad and former Kansas State safety Kobe Savage.
Ohio State – 97 overall
Offense: 95 | Defense: 99
Ohio State’s new-look offense is led by offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who brings an inside zone running scheme that aims to hit the rock first. Fortunately, the Buckeyes are equipped with the right personnel to do just that. Ole Miss running back transfer 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 significant gain. Kansas State QB transfer Will Howard’s power running style adds an extra dimension and, if translated correctly, will be unique for use in “College Football 25.”
The defense is in a different stratosphere. From top to bottom, there are no holes. The cornerback room looks like a list of all-conference selections, with Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock and Denzel Burke at the top. Alabama transfer safety Caleb Downs was a freshman All-American and already looks like the best back-end player in the game despite his relative youth. Add in a defensive line anchored on the wings by Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, and you have an embarrassment of riches at your disposal on that side of the ball.
Georgia – 98 overall
Offense: 98 | Defense: 99
Few coaches know how to build a squad better than Kirby Smart. He’s been a recruiting machine since being hired to replace Mark Richt in 2016, and there’s a clear reason the Bulldogs are consistently in contention for the national title. Quarterback Carson Beck, relatively unknown this time last year, is considered the best in college football with his poise and arm talent. He has an underrated group of wide receivers, a dynamic backfield with a thunder/lightning combo in Roderick Robinson II and Trevor Etienne, and arguably the best offensive line in America. And what else can you say about Georgia’s defense right now? The Bulldogs accumulate elite defenders at an absurd rate and always reload, no matter what losses they may have suffered during the offseason.
