Most Popular Teams in College Football 25

Ladies and gentlemen, College Football 25 will be coming out on July 19, 2024. We have waited 11 long years for the return of this game and the wait is finally over! The trailer gave me chills and I have watched it more times than I care to admit. EA has performed an absolute master piece in building up hype for this guy. Ultimately, none of the hype will matter if the game isn’t great. For the sake of time and the fate of my soul, we’ll assume the game will live up to expectations.

This is a little abnormal for me, since I spend most of my time talking about the sports themselves. If you’re familiar with my prior posts you’ll see lists, opinions, predictions, etc. about collegiate and professional sports. So talking about a video game is a first for me, but this is not just any video game. People have been playing NCAA 14 for eleven years, so the release of another edition is long anticipated and overdue. Plus, the NCAA games were elite in the past. Whether you’re rebuilding a mid-major in Dynasty Mode, winning the Heisman in Road To Glory, playing offline with your friends, or anything else, we’re counting down the days until the release.

For this list, I’m going to go through the teams I think will be the most popular in College Football 25. For further clarification, this is how I’m thinking of it. You’re playing the game as a fan with no team affiliations against your friends. It’s a Saturday Night after the last of the games are over for the day. Which team are you picking? Of course, this is a video game so we aren’t going specifically on who I think the best teams are. It’s great to use a team that has a strong defense, but let’s be honest with ourselves. We’re all going to pick a team with an electric offense because that’s the most fun. This list is not a ranking, but simply my guess of who the top 10 most popular teams will be.

Colorado Buffaloes

This seems like the most obvious team on the list. Colorado and their coach Deion Sanders are the most polarizing duo in college football. Some people love them while others despise them. With that being said, Shedeur Sanders is a pre-season Heisman favorite and the Colorado offense is exciting to watch. Travis Hunter is a throwback star as he plays on both sides of the football. Hunter has the potential to completely take over college football this season. He can shut down your best player and then catch a touchdown when the Buffaloes take the field offensively. The defense also has a Sanders on their side of the ball, Shilo Sanders. Shilo is a hard hitting defensive back that rocks #21 in homage to his legendary dad. The trenches on this Colorado squad may bring up some question but the skill position players will keep everyone interested.

**Offensive Stars:** Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr.
**Defensive Stars:** Travis Hunter & Shilo Sanders

No matter how the season goes for Colorado, Shedeur and Travis Hunter will be two of the best players in the game. It will be interesting to see how Colorado adjusts to the Big 12 this season, but that will not impact their popularity in this game. Deion Sanders and Colorado got more people interested in college football last year and it will likely be the same for this season. The allure of Deion mixed in with the star power the Buffaloes have will make them a popular team in the latest edition of NCAA.

Alabama Crimson Tide

A few years ago, this would’ve been the lamest team to put on my list. However, this is not the Alabama team we have gotten so used to. They are for sure talented, but the Nick Saban era is over and we’ll just have to see how the program moves forward from here. There is still a lot of talent on both sides of the ball for Alabama. On the defensive side of the ball, Alabama lost a lot of game wreckers but are still flush with talent and potential. The real reason people will want to play is returning quarterback Jalen Milroe. Milroe is a dual threat quarterback that progressively improved throughout the 2023 season for the Crimson Tide. Tallying 2,834 passing yards, 531 rushing yards, and 35 total touchdowns, Milroe was a pain for opposing defenses all year.

One of the biggest problems for Alabama in recent years has been the lack of playmakers at the offensive skill positions. Looking ahead to this season, none of the skill position players jump off the page. Players like Kobe Prentice, Kendrick Law, and Jam Miller have all provided production in limited roles. We see players take huge leaps each year in CFB, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a Crimson Tide playmaker becomes an elite weapon this season. There will be no questioning Alabama’s talent and Milroe is one of the most Dynamic players in college football. He will be a main reason that people elect to play as Alabama. He may struggle with accuracy at times, but his mobility and strong arm will help make Alabama a popular pick in the game.

Ohio State Buckeyes

This is a team with big names on both sides of the ball. Ohio State has Jack Sawyer, TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, Cody Simon, amd JT Tuimoloau all returning to the 2024 edition of the program. They also have Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins, Jeremiah Smith, and Caleb Downs coming in as transfers/freshmen. On offense, Will Howard isn’t the most exciting quarterback but he proved at Kansas State that he can get the job done. The weapons are what will really get potential gamers drooling. The running back duo of Henderson and Judkins are among the best in the country, both coming off 1,000 yards from scrimmage seasons. On the outside, Egbuka is coming off a down season but is still one of the best receivers in all of CFB and Smith is thought of by many as the top recruit at any position in the 2024 recruiting class. While Will Howard had some talented players around him at Kansas State, those players were nothing compared to the weapons he has with the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s offense also possesses an elite offensive line that will give gamers time to throw and open holes to run through.

The Buckeyes losing to Michigan for two straight years doesn’t quite make them an underdog, but it does make them a bit more likeable than before. A team with one of the richest histories in all of college football will be looking for revenge in the upcoming season for a team that has stars scattered across all positions. This defense has difference makers across all three levels of their defense and yet again has second/third string players on offense that would star at many other schools. The elite offense and exciting defense will make Ohio State a near cheat code in the long awaited college football game.

Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks would’ve made this list in 2014 and they’re for sure making it in 2024. The offense isn’t the Chip Kelly offense once ran by the Ducks, but looks like one of the best offenses heading into the season. They brought in a pair of top transfers, Dillon Gabriel and Evan Stewart. Gabriel is an experienced quarterback that has played four productive and efficient seasons of college football at UCF and Oklahoma. Evan Stewart was a top prospect out of high school and played his first two seasons at Texas A&M. He put up solid numbers but is looking to have a career year with an explosive Oregon offense. Returning contributors Traeshon Holden, Tez Johnson, and Jordan James round out the skill position groups.

Offensive Stars: Dillon Gabriel & Evan Stewart

Defensive Stars: Jabbar Muhammad, Jordan Burch, and Kobe Savage

Dan Lanning has also helped this program turn the corner defensively. Back in the Chip Kelly era, the defense really held the Ducks back. While we all want to score touchdowns in the upcoming game, a capable defense will always make the experience better. I honestly think Oregon will be a popular team for as long as these college football games continue to roll out. Oregon might not have the storied history like Notre Dame, Alabama, or Michigan, but they’ve been a relevant team with an electric offense for most of the 21st century. Don’t be surprised to see people playing with the high-scoring Ducks, rocking those wild uniforms.

Texas Longhorns

Interestingly enough, one of the most notable things about the Longhorns is a player not featured in the game. Backup quarterback Arch Manning opted out of the game and was probably the biggest names to do so. With that being said, this Texas squad has enough to be excited about despite their biggest name opting out of the game. Quinn Ewers will be the Longhorn starter again this year following a breakout year in 2023. The talented Longhorn offense will prominently feature Isaiah Bond and CJ Baxter. Bond is hoping to put up career numbers in a more pass heavy offense while Baxter is looking to star as the primary back of an explosive Texas offense. Defensively, Texas is no slouch, but the offense is the biggest draw here.

The talent and explosiveness of the Texas offense will draw attention to potential players. Ewers throws a beautiful deep ball which will make four verticals a fantasy with this Longhorn offense. The move to the SEC will also draw attention to the Longhorns once the season kicks off. Texas was solidly on this list, but I think they might really gain notoriety here once the regular season starts. If guys like Bond, Bolden, and Baxter can make some noise and the Longhorns can win some SEC games, fans of the new game will be swarming to play as Texas.

Memphis Tigers

The first Mid-Major program to show up on this list is the Memphis Tigers. Some of the other teams on this list are on here because they have a balance of an exciting offense and a stifling defense. Memphis is not one of these cases. In 2023 they ranked 6th in offense but 95th in overall defense. Thankfully, we are talking about a video game so offense is really all we will be caring about. A good defense would be the cherry on top, but not something the Tigers possess. The main reason the Tigers will carry their high powered offense in the 2024 season is quarterback Seth Henigan. Henigan accounted for 37 touchdowns in the 2023 season and was one of the best hidden secrets in all of college football.

In addition to their Heisman dark horse quarterback, the Tigers are retuning their top two receivers from last season. The biggest loss they are facing is dynamic running back Blake Watson. To help fill that void, Memphis pickup up Mario Anderson in the transfer portal who was South Carolina’s leading rusher. As one of the best offenses in all of college football, Memphis will be very popular in the new game. They are a Non-Power 4 team so, they won’t be quite as popular as some of the other teams on this list. Your friend who thinks he/she knows college football better than everyone else will pick a team like Memphis. The Tigers also have cool jerseys to go along with their explosive offense, so visuals and vibes as you’re playing as the Memphis Tigers will be hard to surpass by another team.

Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks are the most surprising Power 4 team on this list. If anyone doesn’t believe me, please watch some film of Kansas from the past two seasons. The Jayhawks have proven to be a dynamic offense that centers around running back Devin Neal and quarterback Jalon Daniels. Both players provide versatility as Daniels is a true dual threat quarterback and Neal is elite in both the run and pass game. Kansas also returns a ton of talent offensively with their top three receivers, Lawrence Arnold, Luke Grimm, and Quentin Skinner, all returning for the 2024 season. The big question mark for Kansas will be the health of star quarterback Jalon Daniels. Luckily, since we’re talking about the video game, his health won’t play too much of a factor.

If I told you all eight years ago that a college football video game would be coming out in 2025 and I was predicting Kansas would be one of the ten most popular teams, I would not have been taken seriously. We all know the history of this long awaited game. On the Kansas side of things, the Jayhawks were the laughing stock of college football for 10+ years. However, since taking over the Kansas program, Lance Leipold has swiftly turned the Jayhawks around. Kansas has made it to two straight bowl games and look to have a high powered offense to go along with a defense with one of the best cornerback tandems in the country. For gamers, the combination of Neal and Daniels will be electric with the potential that this duo dominates in real life if they’re both healthy. The Kansas offense will continue on their trend from the past two seasons and be really tough for opposing defenses to stop. The Jayhawks are a fun option for this game and showcase one of the biggest transformations between editions of the college football video game.

Georgia Bulldogs

The Bulldogs were on a 29 game win streak before losing the SEC Championship game to Alabama this year. The dominant Georgia team has lost some talent over the years, but they are still entering the 2024 season loaded with talent. The Bulldog dynasty has been built on one of the best defenses college football has ever seen. This year, Georgia enters the season with a top tier defense, but they also have a high powered offense to complement it. Last year the Bulldogs were Top 5 in both offense and defense. This season should be much of the same. However, I think the Carson Beck, Trevor Etienne duo is the best quarterback and running duo that Georgia has had in recent years.

**Offensive Stars:** Carson Beck, Trevor Etienne, and Dominic Lovett
**Defensive Stars:** Malaki Starks, Jalon Walker, and KJ Bolden

The loss of Brock Bowers cannot be understated for Georgia. Like many other powerhouses, however, the Bulldogs are stocked with top tier talent. Carson Beck is another Heisman-hopeful who is looking to build off a great 2023 season. Beck played smart football last season and is one of the top returning quarterbacks in 2024. He will be highly rated behind an elite Georgia offensive line. The other player that will reap the rewards of a great offensive line is Trevor Etienne. Etienne transferred over from Florida and is coming off an explosive season. He will greatly benefit from improved offensive line play and is looking to lead a talented Bulldog backfield. Defensively, Malaki Starks is one of the best returning defensive players and is looking to be the next Georgia defender taken in the first round of the NFL draft. Filled with talent on both sides of the ball, Georgia will be a juggernaut in the long awaited rendition of College Football by EA Sports. They might not be the “cool” pick, but you’ll win a lot of games if you pick Georgia as your team.

Liberty Flames

Liberty represents the second Mid-Major program to get some love on this list. In recent years, Liberty has emerged as one of most explosive offenses in college football. The Flames only recently joined the FBS in 2018, and have played in 5 bowl games since then. This includes Liberty earning a spot in last year’s Fiesta Bowl. They may have got steamrolled by a great Oregon team, but they should be very proud of their performance as they look to build off it in the future. Looking at this 2024 Liberty squad, they have a very similar season outlook to the 2024 Memphis team. They return some key contributors but also have to replace some production. What differentiates the Flames from Memphis is that they have a capable defense. While not elite, their defense ranked 54th ahead of many Power 5 teams in 2023. A healthy defense to go along with their 9th ranked offense is what helped Liberty to an undefeated 2023 campaign for the Flames.

Kaidon Slater is one of the best dual threat quarterbacks we have in the game today. In 2023, he had over 2,500 passing yards and over 1,000 rushing yards. He combined for 44 touchdowns and will be looking to continue putting on a show in 2024. Their leading receiver, CJ Daniels, transferred to LSU this offseason. They are returning their top 3 rushing in, Kaidon Salter, Quniton Cooley, and Billy Lucas. This offense relies heavy on the run game and has one of the best rushing attacks in all of FBS. This may make some players avoid the flames for a more pass heavy offense, but I think many will flock to the Flames. Similar to Memphis, your friend who thinks they know more CFB than you will likely pick Liberty in an attempt to show off their knowledge. Look out for them in College Football 25 and also don’t be surprised if Liberty runs the table in the regular season again.

Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss might be the team that had the best offseason in all of CFB. The Rebels have the number one rated transfer class, helping them add talent on both sides of the ball. Jaxson Dart returns as a Heisman contender who is underrated as a dual threat quarterback. As expected with a Lane Kiffin coached team, the Rebels offense can but up points in a hurry. Dart will have a bounty of skilled receivers to throw to in 2024. Returning pass catchers Tre Harris, Jordan Watkis, and Caden Preiskorn will be on the receiving end of numerous touchdown passes from Dart this season. The Rebels put some work in through the transfer portal to improve the talent on the defensive end as well. Most attention defensively will be going to recent additions and highly touted players, Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen.

**Offensive Stars:** Jaxson Dart, Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, and Ulysses Bentley IV
**Defensive Stars:** Walter Nolen, Princely Umanmielen, and Trey Washington

Ole Miss will be one of the most popular picks for people playing College Football 25. As I’ve said time after time in this piece, a balanced team is great. However, the biggest draw for teams in this game is to have an explosive offense. Teams will want to put up points quickly and Ole Miss will be able to do just that. I think Jaxson Dart is flying under the radar in terms of elite quarterbacks and he will be a blast for users in the new game. The Rebels are incredibly talented on both sides of the ball and also aren’t a historic program. Let’s just say it will be a much more original pick to use Ole Miss as opposed to a team like Georgia or Alabama who has recently won a championship.

At the end of the day, we’re all just excited for College Football 25 to come out. The mid-July release date is perfect as it will help bridge the gap between the start of the college football season. This list might just strictly be referring to playing a single game against your friends, but there are plenty of things to be excited about with this game. Dynasty and Road To Glory will provide endless hours of entertainment as we build in excitement for the 2025 season. As I stated several times above, teams with explosive offenses are who dominate this list. Defense might be more important in real life football, but don’t be afraid to choose a team that boasts an elite defense. Just make sure the offense is competent enough in the game. I’m not sure how fun last year’s Iowa Hawkeyes would have been to play with. Enjoy the game we’ve waited so long for and let me know who I left off the list.

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