One of the most anticipated video games in recent memory hits theaters on July 19th, and college football fans have been given a glimpse of what's to come.
The official trailer for EA Sports College Football 25 was released on Friday, and the University of Wisconsin football program was featured four times in the trailer.
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This is the first college football game since the last version was released in July 2013. That game was halted after a lawsuit was filed over using players' likenesses without compensation, but the NCAA's approval in 2021 to allow players to profit from brands paved the way for the game to be made again.
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The Badgers shot features a mascot who is part of what EA Sports described as a “ritual of the rivalry” — a “legendary tradition that drives college football stadiums wild.” The game features voice talent familiar to college football fans, including Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Rese Davis, Jesse Palmer and David Pollack.
University of Wisconsin safety Hunter Waller was featured in the EA Sports College Football 25 reveal trailer.
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The first Wisconsin-related footage comes at the 40-second mark and shows the Badgers heading onto the field near the tunnel with the south end zone of Camp Randall Stadium in the background. All-Big Ten safety Hunter Waller appears with outside linebackers Darryl Peterson (17) and Leon Lowry Jr. (8).
Bucky Badger appeared in the EA Sports College Football 25 reveal trailer.
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Bucky Badger appears at 1:11 in the trailer, while the other two shots are shown for a second each at the end of the trailer.
University of Wisconsin football players, from left, Darryl Peterson, Jake Chaney, Jaheim Thomas and Kurt Neal, are featured in the EA Sports College Football 25 reveal trailer.
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Peterson, Thomas and defensive lineman Kurt Neal are pictured with inside linebacker Jake Chaney making a “W” with his hands.
In the EA Sports College Football 25 reveal trailer, Wisconsin defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. cuts down a goalpost with Paul Bunyan's axe.
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One of the final game shots in the trailer shows defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. cutting down a goalpost with a Paul Bunyan axe while surrounded by several Badgers.
All 134 Football Bowl Subdivision programs will be part of the game. More than 11,000 players accepted the offer to use their likeness in the game. EA Sports offered FBS players a minimum of $600 to use their likeness and a copy of the game, and also offered some players NIL contracts to promote the game through their ambassador program.
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The cover image features University of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, University of Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter and University of Michigan running back Donovan Edwards.
The game is available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and purchasing the pre-orderable Deluxe Edition will give fans access to the game three days early.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
