Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman should be a EA Sports College Football 25 cover athlete

OU’s senior linebacker should be immortalized on the cover of the new college football video game.

College Football is finally getting passed back the sticks this summer, as EA Sports will be releasing College Football 25. It’s the long-awaited sequel to the college football video game series that saw its last installment, NCAA 14, come out eleven years ago.

EA Sports announced the return of the series in February 2021, and more information about the game itself has trickled out since then, with a teaser trailer dropping this past winter.

While we don’t have a release date yet, we do know that players can opt in to the game and earn income through name, image, and likeness. We know commentators, like ESPN’s lead duo of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, will be featured. We know that all 134 FBS teams for the 2024 season will appear in the game. And we know that there will be multiple covers with different cover athletes for different editions of the game.

That’s where Oklahoma Sooners’ football linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] should come in. There haven’t been any confirmed reports about who the cover athletes will be yet, but Stutsman is exactly the kind of player who should be considered.

Cover athletes are typically offensive players, guys with the ball in their hands. And that makes sense, as that’s what a football video game allows the person playing it to feel like they are doing.

But even at the linebacker spot, Stutsman represents what die-hard college football fans love about the sport, and what new fans to the game can embrace.

He represents college football.

In the era of the transfer portal, with players moving around at will, sometimes multiple times in one year, Stutsman has been a Sooner since his true freshman season in 2021. He stuck it out in the crimson and cream when [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] and his defensive coordinator [autotag]Alex Grinch[/autotag], the pair that recruited him to Norman, hopped on a plane to Southern California. He stuck it out when [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] took charge of the program a week later. He stuck it out through a 6-7 season in 2022, and didn’t waver in his commitment to Venables and the Sooners. And he was the focal point of OU’s defense last year, as the team improved to 10-3.

Stutsman considered leaving for the NFL but changed course and decided to return to Oklahoma to chase championships in the SEC for the 2024 season. He made an epic announcement on social media.

But Stutsman isn’t just some old soul who rejects what is becoming the modern era of college football. If you couldn’t tell by a Jordan Belfort, Wolf of Wall Street reference of all things, Stutsman embraces the new opportunities for players of his caliber.

Stutsman cashed in with a t-shirt featuring his quote from the pregame of the 2023 Red River Rivalry win over Texas. The shirt read, “Oklahoma only fears God. Texas fears Oklahoma.” Even Venables donned the apparel featuring Stutsman in the Golden Hat and sunglasses with his signature on them, smoking a Saban victory cigar. EA Sports can go ahead and make that image the cover.

Personalities sell the sport and Stutsman has one of the biggest in college football. He’s well known, especially in Big 12 and SEC circles. He has a [autotag]Brian Bosworth[/autotag]-esque swagger and style on and off the field. “The Boz” would have made an excellent cover athlete as well.

Stutsman is one of the best linebackers in the nation heading into 2024, and plays for one of the most recognizable brands in the sport. Oklahoma is at or near the very top of the blue blood list over the 150-plus year history of the game.

The Sooners have never had a player grace the cover of a college football video game. The game’s hiatus caused there to never be a cover featuring Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray or Baker Mayfield.

Why not start with Danny Stutsman on the cover of a “defense wins championships” edition of College Football 25?

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Arch Manning reportedly opting out of EA Sports’ College Football 25 had fans making jokes

Arch Manning is reportedly opting out of appearing in College Football 25. But why?

Of the 10,000 players players who have opted in to EA Sports’ College Football 25 to get $600 and a copy of the game, there’s one notable name who will reportedly NOT be part of that group: Arch Manning.

The Texas QB and nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning is reportedly not opting in, per Anwar Richardson (see below), which is kind of a curious thing. It’s the easiest $600 to make, right? And the speculation has begun on why he said no — Pro Football Talk suggested that “It seems more likely that Arch wanted more than $600, and that EA passed. Arch doesn’t need to be in the game, and EA doesn’t currently need him in the game, since he’s not the starter at Texas.”

But that last part is interesting — maybe he doesn’t want to be in there because he’s a backup and could transfer?

Fans had so much to say, including jokes:

What are Ohio State players getting paid to appear in college football video game?

What are Buckeyes getting paid to appear in video game? #GoBucks

Every day we get closer to the reintroduction of a video game classic with EA Sports recently releasing a teaser trailer and announcing its expectations for the game to release this summer. The NCAA video game franchise is being renamed “College Football 25” and for the first time we won’t have to download rosters online … and the players will be paid to be in the game.

EA Sports released the compensation package for players that enroll with each player receiving $600 and a copy of the game. Also coming with the new title, is a new price tag as standard video game prices have raised from $60 to $70.

There are approximately 11,000 players eligible to accept the offer and it is understood that this enrollment would be for the duration of the players’ collegiate career, but they will have the option to opt out of future iterations of the game if they so choose.

It is the dream of most to see themselves in a video game and I’m sure most players will enroll, but it will be interesting to see which players decide to decline the opportunity.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Josh Keatley on X.

The most important things Oregon fans should know about EA Sports College Football 25

A lot of new information was released about the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game, so here’s what Oregon Duck fans need to know.

Last week, college football fans got a pleasant surprise when the official announcement came out for EA Sports College Football 25, the return of a beloved video game that is set for this summer.

Since that initial announcement, more and more details have started to come out about what, and who will actually be included in the game, and what type of game play fans will be able to expect.

There is a lot of information out there, both expected and unexpected, and still a lot of speculation about what the game will look like, and when it will ultimately be released in the summer months. However, we’ve gotten a lot of answers to questions this past week.

I’ve taken the information we’ve gleaned and applied it to fans of the Oregon Ducks, giving a better view of what the game might look likee for them in the future. Here’s what Duck fans need to know about the game:

Michigan State to officially be included in EA Sports College Football 25, players can opt-in to game inclusion

Michigan State to officially be included in EA Sports College Football 25 and players can choose to opt-in

It’s official. EA Sports has continued their rollout of the relaunch of the beloved EA Sports’ College Football game series, and on Thursday, they made it official that the game will feature all 134 FBS teams, confirming that MSU will be a playable team. Michigan State players will also be able to opt-in to be included in the game.

Players who opt-in will get paid $600 annually and will also receive a free copy of the game. Players who transfer will still get paid as long as they are still on a roster.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler will be in EA Sports College Football 25 and fans are pumped

College Football 25 will feature Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Fowler and some other big names as commentators.

New details about the upcoming EA Sports College Football 25 game continue to trickle out, and on Thursday we learned more about the commentators in the game.

Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, David Pollack, Jesse Palmer and Kevin Connors all announced their involvement in the game Thursday, and the news was met with excitement from fans looking for an authentic broadcast experience. Each of the broadcast veterans has a familiar voice from their respective tenures at ESPN, and Herbstreit, who remains on College GameDay, was in EA’s last college football game, NCAA Football 14.

The news came on the same day it was announced players could begin opting in to have their name, image and likeness reflected in the game. It only added to the hype around the game’s eventual release.

EA Sports is offering athletes $600 to appear in College Football 25

Players who opt-in to College Football 25 get $600 and a copy of the game.

EA Sports began the opt-in process Thursday for its upcoming College Football 25 video game, allowing players an opportunity to get paid for their name, image and likeness.

Over 11,000 college football players will now have the choice to receive $600 and a copy of the game if they agree to appear in it, and according to The Athletic, EA is recommending those athletes opt in by April 30 to guarantee their place in this year’s version of the game.

According to ESPN, no services are expected for athletes to be compensated the $600, and they’ll be paid no matter the game’s success. However, EA Sports will have more than 100 additional NIL opportunities for things like social media posts and on-campus promotions.

Athletes who opt in will remain in the game for the entirety of their careers and be paid annually, though they have the option to opt out of future editions. Players who transfer but remain on a roster will continue to be paid.

All 134 FBS schools have agreed to be in the game, which releases this summer. Up to 85 players per school will appear on the initial rosters.

247Sports projects Carson Beck’s rating in College Football 25 video game

UGA football quarterback Carson Beck is expected to be one of the country’s top rated players in the College Football 25 video game

247Sports projects that Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck will be one of the highest-rated players in EA Sports’ College Football 25 video game. Beck is projected to be rated as a 94 overall with his top attribute being accuracy.

Carson Beck is one of the country’s top returning quarterbacks. Beck is part of a Georgia team that should be the highest-rated team in College Football 25. Georgia is the consensus way-too-early preseason No. 1 team in the country ahead of the 2024 college football season.

247Sports does project that Carson Beck will be rated lower than Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders (95) and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (96). Carson Beck will play behind of the top offensive lines in College Football 25. Georgia’s speed and depth at the skill positions will make the Bulldogs one of the most fun teams to play with in the EA Sports video game, which is expected to be released this summer.

Carson Beck won’t have the highest speed rating, so many folks playing College Football 25 will likely opt to use Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, or Ole Miss if they are looking to use a mobile signal-caller.

Did an EA Sports College Football 25 Easter Egg from the teaser tell us the game’s released date?

Hmmm!!!

College football fans everywhere are over the moon that we’re FINALLY getting the new game based on the sport that they’ve been hoping for … for over a decade.

We saw the new Twitter profile that told us College Football 25 was coming this summer, with a full reveal in May. We speculated over who should be on the cover. We got a teaser video showing us some previews.

And it was at the end of that video that some fans noticed a film slate with some numbers on it. It could mean nothing … or it could mean that we could be getting the game on June 7, 2024.

HMMM!

Intriguing!!

EA Sports releases teaser trailer for ‘College Football 25’ video game

WATCH: EA Sports releases teaser trailer for new ‘College Football 25’ video game

Football fans have been waiting over a decade for a new college football video game and EA Sports is finally ready to deliver the goods this summer.

On Thursday, a teaser trailer for EA’s “College Football 2025” was released with a full game reveal promised in May. The last college football game to come out was NCAA 14, which dropped back in 2013 before a lawsuit over the use of player likenesses forced developers to stop production.

EA’s “College Football 25” is due out this summer. Check out the official teaser trailer below.