When arguably the most anticipated sports video game of all time is released on July 19, it will feature a Big 12 superstar on the cover of EA Sports College Football 2025— Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.
It’s the first licensed college football game from EA Sports since 2013 and the release of College Football 2014. Hunter is featured alongside Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Michigan running back Donovan Edwards.
The path to making College Football 2025 come to reality — and the ensuing hype — is directly linked to compensation of NCAA athletes following the 2021 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in NCAA vs. Alston that deemed it illegal for the NCAA to block compensation for college athletes.
In Feb. 2024, EA Sports revealed it would pay each athlete a flat $600 compensation fee plus a copy of the game via the Name, Image, Likeness rules that allow college athletes to be paid. The Standard Edition retails for $69.99 with a Deluxe Edition at $99.99 and the MVP Edition for $149.99.
Over 10,000 athletes opted in to be part of the game, with the most notable opt-out being Texas backup quarterback Arch Manning, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023.