Ole Miss, MSU & Southern Miss are in new NCAA game. Some of their important players aren’t
Nearly 11 years to the day, a college football video game is back on the market.
EA College Football 25 released on early access Monday as the first installment of amateur sports in video game form since NCAA 14 was released in July, 2013.
A decade-plus is a long time and the landscape of college athletics have shifted dramatically. Perhaps the biggest change is the athlete’s ability to earn money from their own name, image and likeness.
Because of NIL, college football players will have their full likeness’ featured in a video game for the first time. EA spent three years in development since announcing the game’s return in 2021 and built out stadiums, traditions and player models from the ground up.
This means fans of Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Mississippi State will be able to play with their favorite players inside of Vaught-Hemingway, Davis Wade or M.M. Roberts Stadium.
We go inside the game to showcase how Mississippi’s three FBS schools are presented within the digital world, including which players did — and didn’t — make the launch roster. The list of notable omissions is not exhaustive and features several late enrollees.
The full release is scheduled for July 19. EA plans to update the game through the course of the upcoming season with new players, new uniforms and other adjustments.
Southern Miss
Football at The Rock will feel familiar for fans. The Eagle statue eyes the field and the screech can be heard at different points in the action. Pick up a first down? You’ll hear the familiar “Southern Miss... to the top!” chant ring out in the stands. Score a touchdown? The cannon will fire.
Top players
RB Rodrigues Clark 81 OVR
RG Wil Saxton 80 OVR
QB Tate Rodemaker 79 OVR
Notable missing players
QB Ethan Crawford
Ole Miss
When Rebel fans fire up a game at The Vaught, it’s likely the first thing they’ll hear is the famous Hotty Toddy chant. Players will touch the bust of Chucky Mullins as they make their way onto the field. Vaught-Hemingway’s transition from a horseshoe to a bowl and the largest capacity stadium in the state is also accurately featured.
Top players
DT Walter Nolan 93 OVR
WR Tre Harris 90 OVR
QB Jaxson Dart 90 OVR
Notable missing players
WR Jordan Smart
S Key Lawrence
DL Akelo Stone
DL Suntarine Perkins
RB Rashad Amos
QB Walker Howard
WR Izaiah Hartrup
Mississippi State
If you’re not a Bulldog fan, you may not enjoy playing in Starkville. The cowbells are ringing throughout the game, creating a raucous atmosphere on the playing field. Speaking of the field, the script logo that debuted at midfield in 2023 is accurately reflected in the game. It is also the first time MSU’s $75 million, north end zone-enclosing expansion in 2014 will be seen in a college football game.
Top players
C Ethan Miner 89 OVR
WR Kelly Akharaiyi 84 OVR
RB Davon Booth 82 OVR
Notable missing players
OL Karsten Upchurch