The highly anticipated release of EA Sports College Football 25 has college football players around the country excited as they finally get to play as themselves in the popular video game. The University of Florida’s freshmen quarterback, DJ Lagway, experienced the surreal experience of intercepting himself while playing against his teammate, Tank Hawkins. The Gators gave The Associated Press a behind-the-scenes look at teammates facing off on a big screen during a photo/video shoot, with plenty of oohs, aahs, and trash talk.
The revival of EA Sports College Football comes after an 11-year hiatus, prompted by calls for players to receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness. Thousands of Football Bowl Subdivision players, including the entire Florida Gators roster, accepted a minimum of $600 and a copy of the game to be featured. The players, who grew up playing Madden, were thrilled to see themselves and realistic features like NIL deals and the transfer portal incorporated in the game.
Despite the excitement and fun, players like Lagway are focused on proving themselves in the game and hope to improve their ratings as the season progresses. The game serves as a way to manifest their real-life goals and experiences, with the ability to build powerhouse programs and experience stadium atmospheres realistically. Overall, for players like Lagway and Hawkins, seeing themselves in a video game is a childhood dream come true and a unique way to experience their own football journey.
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Photo credit www.arkansasonline.com
