EA Sports College Football 25: It's Time to Be a Kid Again

When I was a kid, dating all the way back to Super Tennis on Nintendo, NHL 94 on Super Nintendo, and Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball on N64, sports video games have been a really enjoyable part of my life. But I am not sure a game brought me more joy than EA Sports NCAA Football 06. I spent countless hours playing that game in various dorm rooms on WKU’s campus on Tuesday night’s when I should have been studying. Clayton Timmons and I took on shared ownership of Notre Dame one season and our defensive end won the Heisman after accumulating something like 192 sacks. We only threw the ball. I think we won the national championship game 77-7. It was too much fun.

For those not up to date on the sports video game world, next week is a monumental week. For the first time since 2015, EA Sports is releasing a college football game. And for the first time, the actual players will be represented. When the news first came out about the game’s release, I had immediate doubts about whether I would be interested. I just turned 39 years old after all. Feels weird to get excited about a video game. But then…

HAVE SOME KID HOBBIES

Screw that. Why should grown-ups not be able to do things that are child-like? Why can grown people not play video games? Or wiffleball. Or make model airplanes. Whatever your jam, there shouldn’t be an age of enjoyment. And let’s be honest, the world blows right now as we trudge toward the November presidential election. That’s where a video game (or whatever hobby you want) can come into play.

At 4 p.m. on July 16, I will get to have unabashed joy in a kid’s activity again. And Clayton and I have already discussed a revival of our Notre Dame dynasty. So see? Friendships can expand too.

RULES TO PLAY

For those who may have not gotten into the EA Sports College Football video game craze before, there are some rules to remember to play:

1. If you’re going to play DYNASTY mode and try and build a program, you have to take a bottom feeder or the team you root for. No picking Alabama or Georgia. Kentucky is more than sufficient.
2. Throw the damn ball. You could dabble in the option offense but don’t be run-heavy.
3. Go for 2. Live a little. Field goals under 30 yards are not allowed.
4. Scrambling quarterbacks are always the route to go. Play with Matt Leinart and you get killed. Play with Vince Young and you’ll get titles galore.
5. If you do HEISMAN mode, where you control just one player, you must be a quarterback or defensive end. No other positions need apply.
6. Dynasty mode lasts 30 years. If you can’t get at least 20 titles, you should hang it up.

LET YOUR INNER KID OUT

I get that video games are not going to be everybody’s jam. And a $70 price tag might not fit everybody’s budget. But if it does, let your inner kid out and order this game or some other video game of your liking. Bring your kids into the fold. Whip them by 50 points to show them mom or dad’s still got the skills.

It’s also a good way to bond. Play online against friends and random folks. Forget all of the nonsense in our world right now for some drama-free fun. And by drama-free, I mean you might chuck your controller into the wall when your 2-star wideout drops a touchdown against New Mexico State.