Why College Football 25 is Such a Big Deal

​The long-awaited return of the College Football video game is just a few months away, ending a decade-long hiatus due to name, image, and likeness issues. With the speculated release date of July 19th, gamers and college football fans are brimming with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to experience what could potentially be one of the highest-selling games of all time. 

Looking back on it, I partially credit the old college football games as why I played football through high school. The Road-To-Glory mode was awesome as a young kid. In the Road-To-Glory mode, you started your career out as a Senior in High School, which, at the time, High School seemed so far away. I remember sitting there, dreaming of the day I'd eventually play ball in high school. The College Football video game was the closest I could get then. 

After completing the high school season in the game, you faced the difficult decision of what college you would attend. For me, it was always between Nebraska and UNC. I was born and bred a Tar Heel, so that was naturally always an option. Nebraska comes from my neighbor from way back when. His family indoctrinated me to like the Cornhuskers to the point where I was faced with the decision: Tar Heels or Cornhuskers?

I distinctly remember choosing the Cornhuskers. It was different, but it was fun that way. Everyone decides to be a quarterback, but running back was always the most fun position for me to play in the game. I'd have the lowest strength in the game, but man, would my player be fast. There was no catching him. I took inspiration from Ladanian Tomlinson, former running back for the San Diego Chargers. I had played with him a lot in Madden '08, and outside Matt Forte, he's probably my favorite football player of all time. 

After leading the Cornhuskers to three consecutive National Titles as a player, I applied my football knowledge to coaching, aka Dynasty Mode. Choosing where I would start my coaching career was always easy. I was going to be the Offensive Coordinator for the Akron Zips. After spending a few seasons as the OC for the Zips and a few Conference Titles later, I was offered the job at LSU. 

After winning three consecutive BCS Championships with the Tigers, my heart longed to be elsewhere. I was at the pinnacle of my coaching career. My players were shattering records, I hadn't lost a game in my Head Coaching career, and I could snag any player I wanted through recruiting. So what did I decide to do? Go home. 

As a player and a coach, I won six National Titles and more conference titles and built my name to be the biggest in college football. It was time for UNC to get a piece of that pie. I remember going undefeated in my first season with the Tar Heels, but the wins weren't good enough for a BCS Title Game appearance. We would go on to win a major bowl game but had a chip on our shoulder. We had to do it again if we wanted a shot at a Title. So that's exactly what we did. 

We won the ACC and finally got our shot. That year, we would go on to win the National Title, and as a result, schools like Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina wanted to join the conference. The Tar Heels and I would go on to win several more ACC and National Titles until I found my college football game missing one day. 

To this day, I still have no idea where it is. The last time I remember playing it was at my buddy's grandparent's mountain house outside Boone, North Carolina, home of the Appalachian State Mountaineers, who will be in the new College Football game. I may have left it at that mountain house, but who knows? It may still be there. 

The last game came out a year or two before UNC-Charlotte entered the FBS. I remember that being the most upsetting thing for me, as no new games were being made. I was a huge UNCC fan at the time. My dad had bought season tickets to all the basketball and football games. I was excited to bring glory to the 49ers but was robbed of that opportunity. 

This summer, I will be faced with a huge decision. In Road-To-Glory, do I go to UNCC as the 14-year-old me wanted? UNC because we have some unfinished business? What about Oklahoma, whom I have since become a massive fan of, thanks to my wife? Or do I return to my playing roots and go to Nebraska? In Dynasty, where do you start? What jobs do you or don't you take? Do you build up Akron or do you take the glamorous SEC job? There are so many decisions to make!

To someone who hasn't played the games, it seems stupid to make a big deal about it, but those who have played the games understand the emotions involved. It is the closest many of us will get to being college football players or coaches. 

Since the last game, I've played football in high school and have seen others go through the recruiting process and live that. I've worked in college football and have had a taste of what it's like being a coach. I have over a decade worth of experiences between College Football 25 and NCAA Football 14. This game is all about the experience. It's like nothing else you've ever experienced before.