For the first time in over a decade, Electronic Arts is back in the college football video game scene.
EA stopped producing college football video games following the 2013 release of “NCAA Football 14,” partly due to a lawsuit from former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon over name, image and likeness rights. However, the 2021 rule changes regarding NIL opened the door for EA to make college football video games again, beginning with “College Football 25.”
In preparation for the game’s launch, which is set for July 19, EA is releasing several rankings this week, including the toughest places to place, top offenses and defenses and overall team power rankings. While it’s possible that we won’t know individual ratings until the game is released, several players have already made cases to be rated highly.
With that in mind, here are our predictions for the top-10 highest-rated players in “College Football 25.”
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck.
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10. QB Carson Beck | Georgia (94 overall)
Beck, the No. 1 overall pick in Jordan Reid of ESPN’s first 2025 mock draft, is arguably the most talented quarterback in the country. Last season was Beck’s first as a full-time starter, and although the Bulldogs didn’t capture a third consecutive national championship, they barely missed a beat.
In 14 games, Beck — who guided Georgia to a 13-1 record — threw for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions and posted a 72.4% completion rate.
Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham.
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9. DT Mason Graham | Michigan (95 overall)
Graham — a first-team All-Big Ten selection and second-team All-American — was an integral piece of the Wolverines’ national championship-winning defense and is perhaps the top returning interior defender in the FBS. In 13 games last season, the 6-foot-3, 318-pounder made 36 tackles, 7.5 for loss and three sacks.
For his efforts against Alabama in the 2024 Rose Bowl, which included a key tackle for loss in overtime, Graham was named the game’s defensive MVP. Michigan lost several starters from last season’s defense to the NFL, so the projected first-round pick will be one of the Wolverines’ most important defenders and leaders in 2024.
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III.
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8. WR Luther Burden III | Missouri (95 overall)
The way-too-early front-runner to be the first wideout selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, Burden is a do-it-all weapon on offense, similar to Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers. In 2023, Burden led the Tigers in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,212) and touchdown catches (nine) en route to earning a first-team All-SEC selection.
EA has already confirmed that there will be roster updates as the season progresses, and if Burden can replicate his impressive sophomore season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him eventually join the 99 Club.
Michigan defensive back Will Johnson.
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7. CB Will Johnson | Michigan (95 overall)
Johnson has emerged as one of the top pure lockdown cornerbacks in the nation. In 26 games, Johnson has 54 tackles (three for loss) and seven interceptions — one of which resulted in a touchdown — and seven pass breakups.
The 21-year-old has shown up when the lights have been the brightest, as evidenced by being named the defensive MVP of the College Football Playoff title game. As long as Johnson has another productive season for the Wolverines, he’ll be in the mix to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
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6. Safety Caleb Downs | Ohio State (96 overall)
One of the nation’s best true freshmen last season, the All-American made 107 tackles (3.5 for loss), two interceptions and four pass breakups for the Alabama Crimson Tide. After former Alabama HC Nick Saban retired in January, Downs entered the transfer portal and joined the Buckeyes, who should be one of the leading contenders for the 2025 national championship.
Downs’ freshman season alone warrants his inclusion on his list, but his rating gets an additional bump since Ohio State HC Ryan Day hinted that the safety could see time at running back this season.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers.
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5. QB Quinn Ewers | Texas (96 overall)
While it’s debatable whether Ewers is the top quarterback in the country, considering he’s one of the cover athletes for “College Football 25,” chances are he’ll be the highest-rated player at his position. Despite missing two games with a shoulder injury last season, the Ohio State transfer broke out, completing 69% of his passes for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns to lead the Longhorns to their first College Football Playoff appearance.
Ewers opted not to join the QB-heavy 2024 draft class, but with a strong debut season in the SEC, he could establish himself as 2025’s top QB prospect.
LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr.
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4. LB Harold Perkins Jr. | LSU (97 overall)
The former No. 1 high school linebacker recruit has lived up to the hype since joining the Tigers, as Perkins has developed into one of the top defenders in the nation. Over the past two seasons, the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder has 147 tackles (26 for loss), 13 sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups and seven forced fumbles.
With his explosiveness, outstanding pass-rushing ability and solid coverage skills, Perkins is the modern-day linebacker prospect NFL teams are clamoring for. He’ll surely be one of the most used defenders in “College Football 25.”
LSU offensive linemen Will Campbell.
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3. LT Will Campbell | LSU (98 overall)
The only offensive lineman on our list, the 6-foot-6, 320-pounder took home first-team All-SEC honors last season after allowing just 17 total pressures, five QB hits and zero sacks.
According to Pro Football Focus‘ wins above average metric, Campbell is the fifth-most valuable Power Five tackle since 2022, trailing Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga and Alabama’s JC Latham, who were first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. If Campbell puts together another stellar season for the Tigers, he should be the first tackle to go off the board in the 2025 draft.
Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II.
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2. RB Ollie Gordon II | Oklahoma State (98 overall)
The Doak Walker Award winner posted video-game numbers during the 2023 season, rushing for an FBS-leading 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns on an efficient 6.1 yards per carry. Gordon also ranked first nationally in 100-yard games (nine), 150-yard games (five) and 250-yard games (two).
The 20-year-old will undoubtedly be a leading contender for the 2024 Heisman Trophy after finishing seventh in the balloting last season. Even so, he fails to earn a 99 overall rating since his catch rating will likely be in the 80s due to his respectable but not exceptional receiving totals in 2023 (330 yards and one touchdown).
Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.
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1. CB/WR Travis Hunter | Colorado (99 overall)
Although Hunter, a “College Football 25” cover athlete, has only played in nine games at the FBS level, he has quickly solidified himself as the best overall player in the country. According to 247Sports, the two-way sensation was the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2022 and surprisingly signed with Jackson State, becoming the highest-ranked recruit to commit to an FCS program.
After his freshman season, during which he made two interceptions and scored six touchdowns on offense, Hunter followed his head coach, Deion Sanders, to Colorado. In his first season with the Buffaloes, Hunter excelled when healthy, catching 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns on offense and posting 30 tackles, five passes defended and three interceptions on defense.
During EA’s 11-year hiatus from producing a college football video game, we missed out on playing with some incredible players, such as Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. While getting the chance to use Hunter on both sides of the ball won’t entirely make up for that, he should still be one of the more entertaining players to use in the series’ history.
