The College Football 25 deluxe edition video game cover. Credit: PlayStation Store
By Ben Axelrod on

With each day that passes, we get one day closer to the release of the College Football 25 video game.

And while we have yet to get an official gameplay trailer for the highly anticipated game, fans on social media were abuzz on Friday after the PlayStation Store posted the first look at the cover of its deluxe edition.

The cover in question features the likenesses of several real college football — last names, jersey numbers and all — filling a stadium’s tunnel as if they’re about to run onto the field for a game. Michigan running back Donovan Edwards is featured in the center of the cover, flanked by Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.

Other players who can be seen in the cover include Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, as well as unidentified players from USC, Notre Dame, Oregon, Washington, Tennessee, Illinois, North Carolina and Boise State.

The return of EA Sports college football franchise — formerly known as NCAA Football — comes 11 years after its most recent release. Following the release of NCAA Football 14 in 2013, EA Sports ceased production of the game as a result of the Ed O’Bannon lawsuit regarding name, image and likeness.

College players now being permitted to profit off of NIL, however, opened an avenue for the return of the franchise, with current college players having the ability to opt into being included in the game. Whereas players were previously represented by thinly veiled avatars — i.e., Ewers would have been “QB No. 3” on Texas — the upcoming game will feature the real names and likenesses of the players who opted into the game, with some players (including presumably those featured on the cover) earning additional compensation for their promotion of the game.

With the game expected to release on July 19, there should be plenty of news and revelations regarding its contents in the coming weeks. To that end, EA Sports’ official website currently features a countdown clock teasing more news that will be coming next week.

[PlayStation Store]

About Ben Axelrod

Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.

View all posts by Ben Axelrod