Rejoice college football and video game fans, you’ve made it. EA Sports has finally released its highly-anticipated "College Football 25" video game for those who purchased an early access package, and let me be the first to tell you that it’s nice to fire up some collegiate pageantry on the console once again.
Before the release, we learned a lot about where some of the teams and players would be ranked, and we were also able to see some of the game footage complete with trailers and graphics. Being that we are Big Ten football fans, we are very interested in what the game has to offer from what we can now say is sea to shining sea with the addition of the West Coast teams.
So, who are the best players the Big Ten has to offer in the EA Sports reboot? Here’s a look at the top ten rated players in the fresh, out-of-the-package, "College Football 25" game that you can now get your hands on.
No. 10 - QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon | Overall Rating of 92
Overall Ranking: 30
This might end up being too far down for Gabriel. He’s already shown flashes of what he can do at Oklahoma, and the Oregon system should allow him to put up some pretty lofty numbers. He’s already on the shortlist of Heisman favorites, and he might take the thing home if everything breaks just right. Dare we say, maybe he’s not as good as he should be in gameplay.
No. 9 - DE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State | Overall Rating of 92
Overall Ranking: 29
We already know what Sawyer can be, but truth be known, he’s yet to show the potential of being one of the top defensive recruits in the country when he committed in 2020. He started to look more comfortable when he was put back on the edge with his hand on the ground and we should expect big things from him during his senior campaign. Admittedly, it is hard to get anywhere coming off the edge though when switching the game on and turning him loose.
No. 8 - OT Aireonte Ersery, Minnesota | Overall Rating of 93
Overall Ranking: 24
It’s not often we see a player the caliber of Ersery anchor an offensive line in Minnesota, but he might be the best tackle in the Big Ten. Look for the Gophers to gameplan things around him on offense with pass protection and run schemes, the same as what you might want to do when you break the seal on “College Football 25.”
No. 7 - RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State | Overall Rating of 93
Overall Ranking: 23
Is Henderson being overlooked now that Quinshon Judkins shares the backfield with him? When healthy, there aren’t too many backs more explosive than the Virginia native and I wouldn’t put it past him to be a Heisman-caliber guy once the season gets rolling under the Chip Kelly offense. Judkins is a clear cut above though based on our experience playing the game so far.
No. 6 - WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State | Overall Rating of 93
Overall Ranking: 19
Egbuka is primed to be Ohio State’s No. 1 target this year and would have pushed Marvin Harrison Jr. for that honor last season if not for an injury that plagued him most of the season in 2023. OSU is lucky to have him and if he regains the form we saw in 2022, he’s a legitimate first-round NFL talent still playing on the banks of the Olentangy. He gets open and runs away from solid defenses a lot from what we’ve experienced thus far on our console.
No. 5 - LB Jay Higgins, Iowa | Overall Rating of 94
Overall Ranking: 16
Iowa is known for producing almost as many blue-collar linebackers as corn. Higgins is the next throwback-type linebacker in Iowa City and fits the culture and mentality you would expect from a Hawkeye defender. He can run a little as well. He’ll get his nose dirty and be in on a lot of tackles this season, both virtually and in real life.
No. 4 - RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State | Overall Rating of 95
Overall Ranking: 9
It’s almost unfair for the Buckeyes to have two elite-type running backs, but that’s what the rest of the conference is staring at. Judkins is more of a bruiser than Henderson and can go get the tough yards, but he’s also got enough juice to him to get out in the open. He’ll be a great compliment to the other weapons on offense for the Buckeyes this year. Have fun utilizing him as much as you desire in "College Football 25" because he’s durable.
No. 3 - DT Mason Graham, Michigan | Overall Rating of 95
Overall Ranking: 8
The Wolverines may have lost a lot of veteran players off the team from last season, but Graham is back to be a game-wrecker again in 2024. He’s one of the best defensive tackles on your television set and game consoles and is a handful no matter which one you turn on.
No. 2 - FS Caleb Downs, Ohio State | Overall Rating of 95
Overall Ranking: 5
Downs was one of the best defensive backs in the entire country playing as a freshman for Alabama last season and now he’s honing his craft on Ohio State’s defense. He’ll be one of the best again this season and is a guy that can erase a lot of plays on the back end while running across your screen for EA Sports as well.
No. 1 - CB Will Johnson, Michigan | Overall Rating of 96
Overall Ranking: 1
The top overall player in the entire “College Football 25” game resides in the Big Ten and wears Maize and Blue. Some might ask what kind of major impact a cornerback can have when compared to a quarterback or running back, but you can pretty much turn him loose on a team’s best receiver and forget about it. That’s a big advantage in the Big House and yours.