The deluxe edition cover of EA Sports’ College Football 25 was revealed in an update to the PlayStation Store on Friday morning, generating even more excitement for the long-awaited video game ahead of its summer release.
Michigan running back Donovan Edwards is prominently displayed in the middle of the cover, which is fitting since the last installment of the game – NCAA Football 14 – featured former Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson.
Edwards is flanked by several other athletes, including Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck and Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins.
Unnamed players from programs like Notre Dame, BYU, Florida, Clemson, Florida State, Purdue and Oregon and flags for Ohio State, Iowa, Kansas State, Michigan, Florida, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Auburn can also be seen emerging from the tunnel at Cotton Bowl Stadium.
This marks the first year that current players can be featured on the cover thanks to the emergence of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) in college athletics. Dating back to the game’s initial release as Bill Walsh College Football in 1993, the cover often featured the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, unless that player returned to school.
In addition to the cover, the PlayStation Store listing also shows a screenshot of Notre Dame players standing in the tunnel at Notre Dame Stadium. This is like taken from a pregame cutscene and could be featured in the trailer for the game that is set to be released on May 16.
“In EA Sports College Football 25, experience explosive gameplay variety across 134 FBS schools and immerse yourself in the iconic atmospheres of college football as you chase college greatness,” the listing reads.
According to OneTeam Partners, a marketing company that specializes in licensing, more than 12,300 players opted into the game by the deadline in April. Each player will receive $600 and a copy of the game, which is valued at approximately $70.
It’s unclear if there will be a different cover for the standard edition of the game, though it’s worth nothing EA Sports’ Madden NFL franchise typically uses the same athlete(s) in different poses for each version of the game.
