The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW MICHIGAN FOOTBALL BY ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan Wolverines football fans and the rest of the world got their first official look at EA Sports College Football 25 on May 17 with the reveal of the game's official trailer ahead of its July 19 release. Michigan senior running back Donovan Edwards will grace the cover of both the standard and deluxe editions of the video game, but he is also featured in the trailer. Several snippets of the Wolverines are featured in EA's two-minute sizzle reel, including Edwards running away from an Ohio State defender, junior cornerback Will Johnson taking a turnover photo of the team, and Edwards and his teammates hoisting the Rose Bowl trophy. Edwards is the fourth Wolverine to grace the cover, joining Charles Woodson (NCAA Football 99), Desmond Howard (NCAA Football 06) and Denard Robin- son, who was on the cover of NCAA Foot- ball 14, the last edition of the game prior to this year's revival. "As a little kid, you just want the finer things," Edwards said, via MLive. "Cover of EA or just making it to the NFL, or even playing college football. This is definitely up there, just to be able to be a part of the Michigan tradition and legacy of having three — now four — players on the cover. "I think it just implements and stamps what kind of program this is. If you do the right things, you're going to be rewarded." Following the release of the 2013 edi- tion of the game, EA settled a lawsuit brought forth by former players arguing their name, image and likeness (NIL) were used without permission or compensa- tion. As part of the NCAA's settlement, EA announced it would stop producing the video games. In February 2021, EA announced the se- ries would return, and the NCAA v. Alston case ruling in the Supreme Court made it permissible to compensate college ath- letes. Shortly after, EA said that player likenesses would be featured in its next edition of the game. The new cover also features Texas quar- terback Quinn Ewers and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. The game features all 134 FBS teams and the name, image and likeness of current play- ers, which is a first in series history. Play- ers who opted into the game received a payout of $600 each. The game, developed by the team at EA Orlando, will be available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S with three editions to pick from. The standard edition retails for $69.99, the deluxe edition includes three- day early access and other perks at $99.99, and the MVP bundle will be $149.99 with Madden 25. Some of the staples of the series return in a built-up-from-the-ground game. Dynasty Mode returns, in which players can create a coach and take over any one of the 134 FBS programs featured in the game or a created team of the user's choosing, whether it be Michigan or elsewhere. Re- cruiting will include both the high school ranks and the transfer portal. Also returning is Road To Glory mode, in which gamers can create a player and take on the life of a college football athlete while living the campus experience. They are also able to enter the transfer portal. Home field advantage will also be in the game, which includes road team's perfor- mances fluctuating based on the venue they are in with screen shaking, icons missing from the pre-play functions and inaccurate play art. New modes to the series include Road To The College Football Playoff, an on- line feature that can be played across both consoles. "Will you represent your university, or take a power school to climb the polls?" EA said in its release. "Earn rank by upset- ting 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." There will also be an Ultimate Team mode similar to the Madden series in which players can compile a team of cur- rent and former stars. The ESPN broadcast crew of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will be in the game with the network's "College Game- Day" show also featured. 'The Don' Makes Cover Of Beloved Video Game Revival Michigan running back Donovan Edwards (right) joins Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colo- rado two-way star Travis Hunter on the cover of the EA Sports College Football 25 video game set to be released July 19. GRAPHICS COURTESY EA SPORTS