Lou Groza Award opts-in to EA Sports College Football 25

The National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) told On3 in March that awards under its purview would not be featured in EA Sports College Football 25.

One award under the NCFAA umbrella has broken away and opted into the game. The Lou Groza Award will be in the game, it announced Tuesday afternoon. The trophy is presented annually to the top college football placekicker by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

NCFAA president Mark Wolpert previously told On3 that EA’s offer to the association “is not adequate for the rights fee for the awards.” The list of awards that will not be featured in the video game includes the Bednarik, Biletnikoff, Davey O’Brien, Doak Walker, Jim Thorpe, Maxwell, Outland and Ray Guy. The Heisman Trophy, which is operated by the Heisman Trust, will be included in the game.

“EA Sports College Football 25 is one of the most anticipated and long-awaited video game titles in history and we are incredibly excited that the Lou Groza Award will be a part of the game,” Palm Beach County Sports Commission executive director George Linley said in a statement. “The Lou Groza Award is the pinnacle of collegiate football kicking, and we could not be more excited that college football fans from around the world will have a chance to vie for a Groza Award of their own.”

Wolpert confirmed to On3 on Tuesday that the Groza Award is the only award at this point to break stride from the association and enter the game. What does that mean? Fans who buy the game and play Road to Glory or Dynasty modes will not have the chance to win real trophies that college football players are annually awarded. Before EA Sports made the call to cancel the series a decade ago, NCFAA awards were included. The Groza Award will be in the game.

The National College Football Awards Association has no plans to change its stance. Wolpert previously emphasized the door won’t be closing on the possibility, but the awards had to make a “business” decision.

“It’s really no different than what is going on with the players and their compensation. I mean, we have a number that we feel is a very fair number for EA,” he said. “To be frank with you, what our ask was, was at a level that would be rounding level to a game that’s going very likely to sell millions of copies at a $70 sale price point. There was definitely margin to pay the right fees that we should be able to ask for for that.”

Full breakdown of EA Sports CFB 25 gameplay

Dynasty Mode is back. Players can create a coach, pick one of the 134 FBS schools in the game, and build up a program. Recruiting will include high school and transfer portal recruits. Gamers can also create a new school through Team Builder.

As expected, Road To Glory is also making the return. Players can create an individual player and live the college experience. Similar to past games, players will manage weekly schedules and their GPA. Coach Trust will be imperative for playing time. And in a new wrinkle, players can enter the transfer portal.

A new mode included in the game is Road To The College Football Playoff, an online format playable across consoles.

“Will you represent your university, or take a power school to climb the polls?” EA wrote in its press release. “Earn rank by upsetting the toughest opponents and securing the votes you need to progress and level up divisions. Play your way into the playoffs and battle for the national championship.”

Ultimate Team will also be available. Players can build teams with current stars and legends of the game.

The new game also comes with an in-game feature called “CampusIQ” including the “Wear & Tear System.” Per EA, “As the hits add up, players wear down with the Wear & Tear System. Manage your players’ health, limit fatigue, assess risk of injury, and avoid on-field mistakes by using strategic substitutions to ensure your players are at their best with it counts the most.”

Home-field advantage is also back. Players will be able to test their squad’s road game composure and confidence levels with distractions like screen shaking, missing pre-play icons, and moving play art.