Kirk Herbstreit ponders EA Sports College Football 25 cover athlete, proposes Shedeur Sanders

An EA Sports college football video game is coming this summer. But who will grace the cover from the playing (or coaching) ranks is a matter still rife for debate.

It’s possible EA has settled on one or several candidates at this point. And one man who might know, ESPN college football analyst and color commentator Kirk Herbstreit, who did voiceovers for the game, plead ignorance during a discussion with two of his sons, Tye and Jake, on their podcast, Streit Talk.

“I have no idea,” Herbstreit said. “Like last year, if you were doing this game and it was coming into last season, I would think that Caleb Williams would’ve been, probably the obvious choice. Even though there’s a lot of big names that emerged throughout the year. I feel like there’s a lot of guys going to the draft this year, a lot of the bigger names.”

One returning quarterback did spring to mind for Herbstreit, one with an already large and notable following playing for his dad at Colorado.

“I think Shedeur Sanders is a massive name and a big following. I don’t know that,” Herbstreit said, making clear he wasn’t saying he knew Sanders would grace the cover, just that it makes sense. His sons also pointed to fellow Colorado star and former No. 1 overall recruit Travis Hunter as a possibility.

And Herbstreit pointed out another possibility that’s been raised: Multiple cover athletes, with the various art tailored to specific regions.

“I don’t know — are they saying one cover or are there going to be several covers? I haven’t heard,” Herbstreit said.

Beyond athletes, some have speculated that recently retired Alabama head coach Nick Saban might adorn the front cover of the long-awaited game.

No matter what, though, the return of the EA Sports NCAA football video game also means the return of some highly-valuable marketing real estate for athletes across the sport.

One big name won’t be featured in the newest EA NCAA football game

On Monday, On3’s Pete Nakos reported Texas quarterback Arch Manning will not opt into EA Sports’ upcoming NCAA Football video game. Less than 24 hours later, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach revealed why Manning decided not to be a part of the legendary franchise.

“Manning, who attempted only five passes in one game as Quinn Ewers’ backup in 2023, wanted to wait until ‘he was the guy’ at Texas, the source said,” Schlabach wrote.

Over 10,000 players have already opted into the game. Each player who does will receive $600 from EA and a free copy of the game. Evidently, the offer wasn’t enough to entice Manning, who boasts a $2.8 million On3 NIL Valuation.

Arch Manning was the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2023. However, he was just another quarterback in Texas’ loaded QB room this past season. Manning was the Longhorns’ third-string QB behind Ewers and Maalik Murphy.

Manning only appeared in one game for Texas this season. He completed 2-of-his-5 passes for 30 yards in the Longhorns’ 57-7 win over in-state rival Texas Tech. He also recorded three carries for seven yards in the victory.