13 years ago, EA Sports released the last college football game before going on a decade-long hiatus. That hiatus has finally ended, and the wait is over. EA Sports College Football 25 is here. But during those 13 years, a lot has changed, particularly when it comes to star players.
The record books have some new names, and rosters have completely flipped. This doesn’t come as a surprise, given the decade-long span, but the exclusion of some impressive talents really left us longing. It’s time to remember some of the greats that came and went before their names could be immortalized in EA’s College Football series, so let’s get right to it.
Marvin Harrison Jr. – Ohio State
One of the top wide receivers for Ohio State, Marvin Harrison Jr., was a joy to see on the field. His ability to rush straight down towards the opponent’s goal remained unmatched, and so did his career stats. Having put together 1,000 receiving yards seasons in his last two years, he would have definitely been a nightmare to balance. Marvin’s stats spoke for themselves, highlighting what a pleasure it would have been to see him in-game.
- Stats: 67 receptions, 1,211 receiving yards, 14 TDs
Joe Burrow – LSU
LSU remained undefeated in 2019, thanks to Joe Burrow for the most part. The now-28-year-old led his team to a 15-0 track record, etching his name in the history books. With over 5,600+ yards thrown and an overall 60 touchdowns in the 2019 season, Joe Burrow was not to be taken lightly. To top it all off, he also won the coveted Heisman trophy, the most prestigious individual award in college football.
- Stats: 5,671 pass yards, 60 TDs, 369 rush yards, 5 rush TDs
Lamar Jackson – Louisville
No matter which list you pull up, Lamar Jackson’s name will always be there as one of the most well-known names of the 2016 college football season. Lamar single-handedly carried Louisville and was an absolute monster on the field. Being the top quarterback of 2016, he easily won the Heisman trophy that year, which only left us wanting more. If prime Lamar Jackson were introduced in the video game, he’d be everyone’s first pick without a doubt.
- Stats: 3,543 pass yards, 30 TDs, 1,571 rush yards, 21 rush TDs
Kyler Murray – Oklahoma
While Lamar Jackson might have dominated the ‘16 season, we had Kyler Murray to keep us entertained all through 2018. Another talented young quarterback, Kyler Murray, quickly shot to stardom after receiving the 2018 Heisman trophy. He was the perfect inspiration for the ideal quarterback and would only be rivaled by a few. With 42 touchdowns as well as 12 rush touchdowns, it is unfortunate we never got to see his capabilities in-game.
- Stats: 4,361 pass yards, 42 TDs, 1,001 rush yards, 12 rush TDs
Baker Mayfield – Oklahoma
Oklahoma saw its fair share of star-studded athletes in the 2010-2020 period, and it shows with Baker Mayfield being our second pick from Oklahoma. He was an amazing playmaker and was loved both on and off the field. His impeccable throwing ability was what made him stand out amongst the rest, with over 14,000 yards thrown. EA would’ve needed some serious balancing to keep this player in check in-game.
- Stats – 4,627 pass yards, 43 TDs, 311 rush yards, 5 rush TDs
EA did a great job with College Football 25, which led to it becoming the best-selling sports game in the United States. However, these sales are further evidence of how long fans craved the college football experience, as well as what they missed out on. Moving on, we hope that the developers don’t leave us hanging again with EA Sports College Football 26.
