Many sports video game fans across the country (including myself) were excited to learn that the NCAA Football franchise is on track to return to our lives in the summer of 2024, which will be re-named “EA Sports College Football.”
Plans for the game were threatened to be delayed due to a lawsuit from The Brandr Group, citing that the franchise’s $500 million pool, which would give each athlete represented in the game $500, was considered to be “far below market value.”
Despite the setback, EA Sports remains on schedule to release the game next summer.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring back an authentic college football experience for fans and athletes that have shown such passion for the franchise, and we’re looking forward to delivering it in Summer 2024,” an EA spokesperson tells On3’s Pete Nakos.
It has been ten years since the release of the last game, NCAA Football 14. It has us at Auburn Wire thinking… which Auburn athletes missed out on being a cover athlete for the famous video game franchise?
Our pick for NCAA Football 15 was [autotag]Chris Davis[/autotag] with [autotag]Cameron Artis-Payne[/autotag] selected to represent Auburn on the cover of NCAA Football 16. We returned to the defensive side of the ball for NCAA Football 17, tabbing [autotag]Rudy Ford[/autotag] as the cover player.
Up next we take a look at NCAA 18 and once again one Tigers stands out. The 2016 season got off to a rough start for Auburn, they lost two of their first three games before they rattled off six straight wins to get the season back on track.
A major reason for Auburn’s success was the breakout of sophomore running back [autotag]Kamryn Pettway[/autotag] who emerged as Auburn’s top offensive threat and one of the best backs in the SEC. He led the Tigers with 1,224 yards and 209 carries, rushing for over 100 yards in seven of the nine games he played.
His best work came on the road against Ole Miss, Pettway bowled right over them for 236 yards on 30 carries, leading the Tigers to a 40-29 victory. The 236 yards are the 10th most ever by an Auburn running back in a single game.
Other contenders for the cover athlete include defensive end [autotag]Carl Lawson[/autotag] and defensive tackle [autotag]Montravius Adams[/autotag]. Lawson led Auburn’s defense with 14.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks to go with one forced fumble.
Adams shored up the interior of the defense, making 43 tackles, recording one interception, recovering two fumbles and returning one for a touchdown.
Here is a look at the best photos from each of the contenders.
