Offense has been the hallmark of College Football video games since Electronic Arts acquired the rights in 1998.
Using unique schemes, formations, and options always separated the NCAA Football games from other sports games.
With EA Sports College Football 25 due to release next week (July 19), there is much excitement and speculation about the gameplay and features.
That enthusiasm has been steadily building since EA Sports recently held their rankings showcase about the teams in the game. The rankings EA Sports shared included the top 10 Toughest Places to Play, Offensive/Defensive Power Rankings, and Overall Team Power Rankings.
Recently, hype has hit its peak since EA Sports dropped the Top 100 Players featured in the game.
Using the rankings from EA Sports, I’ve shared 10 offenses that I believe will be the most enjoyable to use in College Football 25. I’ll also be using past stats, NFL Draft insight, and other data to help visualize the experience of using each team.
(Disclaimer: These teams are in no particular order and are also just my opinion, not fact)
Liberty Flames
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – NR
Top 100 Players (2) – #100, HB Quinton Cooley, 90 overall | #90, QB Kaidon Salter, 90 overall
If you were a fan of option schemes in past NCAA Football editions, then Liberty is the team for you. Liberty’s spread triple-option scheme boasted the nation’s #1 rushing attack in 2023 with 293.3 yards per game. Liberty also return star QB Kaidon Salter and HB Quinton Cooley in 2024. These two were responsible for over 60% of Liberty’s 4,106 total rushing yards. What makes Liberty more dangerous compared to past option-heavy teams is their ability to pass. Salter threw for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns last year, making Liberty’s offense that much more explosive. I’d hate to run into Liberty when starting a Dynasty with a fellow Conference USA team.
Miami Hurricanes
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – #7
Top 100 Players (3) – #93, WR Xavier Restrepo, 90 overall | #78, LE Ruben Bain Jr., 90 overall | #67, HB Damien Martinez , 91 overall
It is truly all about the U going into 2024. After acquiring QB Cam Ward from Washington State and RB Damien Martinez from Oregon State, the Hurricanes are loaded on offense. Ward, coming off a year where he threw for 3,735 yards and 25 TDs, should thrive in Miami’s “Air-Raid” system.
He’ll also be throwing to two guys who will soon be playing on Sundays, Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George. WR Sam Brown from Houston will be a solid addition as well. Last but certainly not least, Damien Martinez is one of the most entertaining running backs in college football. Never shy from contact and shifty in a phone booth, Martinez will always make the first guy miss in College Football 25.
Arizona Wildcats
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – #15
Top 100 Players (3) – #89, RT Jonah Savaiinaea, 90 overall | #34, CB Tacario Davis, 92 overall | #14, WR Tetairoa McMillan, 94 overall
It may surprise some to learn that there is NFL-level talent at every key offensive position for the Wildcats. Want to demoralize a defense on the ground? Run “power” to RT Jonah Savaiinaea’s side and you’re guaranteed a 5-yard gain. Want to surgically spread the football around through the air? Sling it with QB Noah Fifita.
However, my strategy would be to target star WR Tetairoa McMillan as much as possible. A projected 1st round pick in 2025 NFL Draft, McMillan has the perfect combination of size and speed with the talented hands to be an All-Pro receiver. It helps when McMillan has his youth football quarterback, Fifita, still throwing him the ball after all these years. See if you can top McMillan’s 1,402 yards and 10 TDs in 2023 when running a Dynasty with the Wildcats.
Ole Miss Rebels
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – #13
Top 100 Players (3) – #81, WR Tre Harris, 90 overall | #73, QB Jaxson Dart, 90 overall | #26, DT Walter Nolen, 93 overall
Even after losing star RB Quinshon Judkins to the transfer portal, head coach Lane Kiffin never fails to stack the Rebels’ offense by dominating the transfer portal. Ole Miss had the #1 transfer recruiting class for 2024 and is projected to be the 3rd most explosive offense in 2024, all according to 247 sports.
Ole Miss’s 2024 offense has enough weapons to make star QB Jaxson Dart’s life easier. It features NFL talent at running back (Logan Diggs), wide receiver (Tre Harris, Antwane Wells Jr.), and even tight end (Caden Prieskorn). However you choose to attack a defense in College Football 25, Ole Miss will always have two, maybe even three guys win their matchup. Who you choose to feed the ball to is a more pressing question than who will get open.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – #17
Top 100 Players (4) – #77, DT Howard Cross III, 90 overall | #74, TE Mitchell Evans, 90 overall | #28, FS Xavier Watts, 92 overall | #12, CB Benjamin Morrison, 94 overall
You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to using Notre Dame in College Football 25. The Fighting Irish consistently field an offensive line good enough to create running lanes for you, let alone for the running back talent they have in South Bend. Combine this o-line prowess with the addition of QB Riley Leonard from Duke, and you’ll get explosive play-action plays from lining up in 11 or 12 personnel.
Notre Dame is looking to build off a historic 2023 where they set a program record for points per game, averaging 39.2. Be sure to give plenty of looks to TE Mitchell Evans in the middle of the field. The Fighting Irish have an excellent track record of producing elite tight ends, and Evans is next in line. You’ll not only dominate recruiting in a Dynasty with Notre Dame, you’ll dominate on the field in 2024 as well.
Oregon Ducks
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – #2
Top 100 Players (5) – #95, LT Josh Conerly Jr., 90 overall | #85, WR Evan Stewart, 90 overall | #65, CB Jabbar Muhammad, 91 overall | #59, WR Tez Johnson, 91 overall | #30, QB Dillon Gabriel, 92 overall
The Oregon Ducks were always a fan favorite to use in previous NCAA Football games. RPOs, run-action passes, play-action passes out of shotgun and the pistol made for exhilarating gameplay. Now with pro-style principles incorporated, Oregon is looking to continue its passing game successes with Oklahoma transfer and star QB Dillon Gabriel as their signal caller.
It’s a perfect marriage: the Ducks were 2nd in passing yards per game in 2023 while Gabriel was 9th in the nation in passing yards to go with 30 TDs. To sweeten the deal, Oregon has two bookend offensive tackles (Josh Conerly Jr., Ajani Cornelius) to buy Gabriel time and 2 track stars at wide receiver (Evan Stewart, Tez Johnson). The sky’s the limit for Oregon in 2024 and for any game you play with the Ducks in College Football 25.
Alabama Crimson Tide
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – #3
Top 100 Players (6) – #76, MLB Deontae Lawson, 90 overall | #71, QB Jalen Milroe, 90 overall | #60, RG Jaeden Roberts, 91 overall | #43, LG Tyler Booker, 91 overall | #35, FS Malachi Moore, 92 overall | #32, C Parker Brailsford, 92 overall
Traditionally, Alabama is among the top teams in every NCAA Football game so this may seem like a boring pick. But what I suggest next may shock you: the 2 best and, at the same time, safest plays you will run with the Crimson Tide are “HB Dive” and “Midline Read Option”. Why? Because Alabama’s interior offensive line is THE BEST UNIT IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
Guards Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts manhandle defensive lineman and can run faster than you. Washington transfer at Center Parker Brailsford is an anomaly; he’s built and plays like Jason Kelce. The cherry on top, Jalen Milroe is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. He will get every chance to showcase that ability in 2024 and in College Football 25.
Boise State Broncos
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – NR
Top 100 Players (1) – #44, RB Ashton Jeanty, 91 overall
This may be a surprising pick, but I’m confident in this selection because of two words: Ashton Jeanty. He’s the best player in the country you’ve never heard of. And he most likely will be one of two running backs picked in the 1st round next year. Just watching his highlights, Jeanty shows flashes of guys like Alvin Kamara and Doug Martin. In College Football 25, he will singlehandedly win you the Mountain West and break the will of opposing defenses in the process. Blown up plays will turn into long touchdowns, and well read screen passes will turn into big gains after multiple missed tackles.
Ohio State Buckeyes
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – #5
Top 100 Players (8) – #54, DT Tyliek Williams, 91 overall | #51, CB Denzel Burke, 91 overall | #46, LG Donovan Jackson, 91 overall | #29, LE Jack Sawyer, 92 overall | #23, HB Treveyon Henderson, 93 overall | #19, WR Emeka Egbuka, 93 overall | #9, HB Quinshon Judkins, 95 overall | #5, FS Caleb Downs, 95 overall
Yes, Ohio State has the most players in the College Football 25 Top 100. The perennial powerhouse has always been a force to be reckoned with in every NCAA Football game. But in this era of NIL, the Buckeyes have built a super team.
I hinted at it in my Boise State write up; the addition of the other future 1st round draft pick at running back Quinshon Judkins puts this Ohio State team over the top. Ohio State has a two headed monster in their backfield by combining Judkins with 2023 star running back Treveyon Henderson. Star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka could have zero catches this year and Ohio State would coast to 10 wins easily. Your friends will definitely get mad if you choose to play with the Buckeyes in College Football 25.
Missouri Tigers
EA Sports Offense Power Ranking – #9
Top 100 Players (1) – #11, WR Luther Burden III, 94 overall
The Missouri Tigers are getting the respect they deserve from EA Sports after a stellar 2023 season. They silenced doubters with an 11-2 record and 6-2 record in the SEC. Now coming into 2024, they return the connection that led them to that success: QB Brady Cook to WR Luther Burden III.
Luther Burden III is a bona fide top 10 NFL Draft pick who would have the #1 player in College Football 25, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, guessing. Burden III brings more to the table than Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan because he is box-office in the open field. He has the elite athleticism and acrobatic catch ability to separate from the pack. You’ll want to throw the ball to Luther Burden III on every down while playing College Football 25 just to see how many he’ll haul in.