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?
In the first edition of this new series titled “Missing the Cut”, we take a look back at which Auburn players had the best chance of being the cover athlete for NCAA 15.
The 2013 season was a magical time for Auburn Football, as they bounced back from a 3-9 season in 2012 by winning the SEC Championship in [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag]’s first season as head coach. There were plenty of athletes to choose from for this season, but I think Auburn’s top representative is a no-brainer.
Chris Davis led the team in tackles with 74 in 2013 and tied Jonathon Mincy for the team lead in pass deflections with 14. However, it was the role he played in the Iron Bowl that separated him from the pack. With one second remaining in the game, Alabama attempted a 57-yard field goal to win the game. The kick was short and fell into the hands of Davis. Davis would then return the missed kick for a touchdown to give the Tigers the 34-28 win. Not only did Auburn defeat its’ main rival that day, but it also locked up the SEC Western Division crown for the Tigers.
I can only picture it in my mind, but the cover of NCAA Football 2015 would be amazing with Davis’ return gracing it. I can see many local restaurants framing the cover and placing them on their walls as decoration.
Outside of Davis, quarterback [autotag]Nick Marshall[/autotag], running back [autotag]Tre Mason[/autotag], and star [autotag]Robenson Therezie[/autotag] were also strong candidates that I considered for the cover.
Here are some of the best images from each cover candidate from Auburn for the hypothetical “NCAA Football 2015” video game.