STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Like many football-obsessed kids in 2013, Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton used to hop on Xbox 360 and laugh at the absurdity of seeing the Oregon Duck mascot running around making plays on a football field.
“You all know what I’m talking about,” Dennis-Sutton said with a laugh, referring to the old NCAA Football video game’s mascot mode. “I’m definitely looking forward to this summer and the game coming out. I think it’s gonna be huge.”
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The release of the EA Sports College Football 25 video game is set for July 19 — after an 11-year hiatus — and more details about the highly anticipated revival of the game are trickling out by the day. Playing as a mascot in older versions is one of the first memories that comes to mind for some Nittany Lions when they reminisce about the game. The annual release was treated as a holiday for many, including some of Penn State’s current standouts who will be part of the game — the first time college player’ names will be included.
“It’s the nostalgia of it. I grew up playing that game,” quarterback Drew Allar said. “I did have like the last version that came out, and I just have so many memories growing up, and that’s kind of just like another outlet for me to get away from football. I’m just really excited. It’s cool to even be in a video game in the first place, so I think that’s just something I’ll cherish.”
👀👀👀 https://t.co/PGvK8BOAOX pic.twitter.com/78YsFhXtDE
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) May 17, 2024
Dennis-Sutton, Allar, Abdul Carter, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and Tyler Warren are among the Nittany Lions who told The Athletic they will be part of the game. Players who opted in and were selected will receive $600 and a copy of the game. Up to 85 players per school will appear on the initial roster. Several players, when asked if they planned to opt in, said in the spring that was the one email they made sure to respond to.
“I don’t think anybody is not excited for it because it’s a cool opportunity,” Warren said.
A few high-profile athletes such as Singleton have name, image and likeness agreements in place in which they will be in the game and also help promote it. Singleton said being included in a game he played throughout his childhood is an honor.
GO DEEPERWhat to know about CFB25's Dynasty Mode, Road To Glory and, Ultimate TeamWarren fondly remembers playing with Marcus Mariota and Oregon. The tight end said he even dusts off the game when he’s home in Virginia on breaks and takes a trip down memory lane to his middle school days when the last game was released. Allar, a five-star recruit, credits the game with helping him better understand what it would be like to be a blue-chip prospect. He looks forward to seeing that dream come full circle this summer.
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Allen, known at Penn State for his punishing running style, had no shortage of talented running backs to choose from when he played the game.
“I played with Bama a lot,” he said. “I’m definitely excited because growing up I always played them type of games. Knowing that I have a chance to be in the game is great. It’s a dream come true.”
Penn State players will soon join some of their current coaches as part of the game’s lineage — though the coaches’ names were not included in previous installments. Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein was known in NCAA Football 08 as Florida right tackle No. 75. He had an overall rating of 90. Tight ends coach Ty Howle and defensive line coach Deion Barnes — or the offensive lineman with an overall rating of 79 and a defensive end with a rating of 80, respectively — were both in the last release of the game as Nittany Lions. That Penn State team was an 84 overall.
It remains unclear what songs and images Penn State Athletics submitted to be included in the game. But players fully expect the release to lead to a lot of spirited discussions right before preseason practices begin.
Carter believes a rating in the low-to-mid-90s would be fair as he transitions from linebacker to defensive end.
Allen offered a more specific prediction: “I’m gonna say like a 90,” he said. “I hope I don’t get played!”
(Photo of Kaytron Allen: Vincent Carchietta / USA Today)
Audrey Snyder has covered Penn State since 2012 for various outlets, including The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Patriot-News and DKPittsburghSports. Snyder is an active member of the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM) and is the professional adviser for Penn State’s student chapter. Follow Audrey on Twitter @audsnyder4
