NCAA Football 25 School Ratings Criteria: A Deep Dive

The upcoming release of EA Sports College Football 25 on July 19th has sparked considerable excitement, especially regarding school ratings and how they impact the game's dynasty mode and financial aspects. This article delves into the criteria used to determine school ratings in the game, drawing on various polls, rankings, and information about royalty payouts.

Understanding the College Football Ranking Landscape

During the college football season, numerous polls track team performance, including the AP Poll, Coaches Poll, and College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. While the AP Poll and Coaches Poll offer weekly snapshots, the CFP rankings gain prominence later in the season, ultimately determining the 12-team playoff field.

The College Football Playoff: A Brief Overview

For a decade, the CFP involved only four teams. However, starting in 2024, it expanded to a 12-team format. This field comprises the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions receive a first-round bye and are seeded one through four. The fifth-highest-ranked conference champion is seeded according to their ranking, or at No. 12 if ranked outside the top 12. Non-conference champion teams are seeded starting at No. 5.

Teams seeded 5-12 play first-round games on campus sites, with winners advancing to play the top four seeds. This new format significantly alters the landscape of college football and influences team strategies and aspirations within the game.

The AP Poll and Coaches Poll: A Historical Perspective

The AP Poll, voted on by sportswriters and broadcasters, awards points to teams on a scale (25 for No. 1, 24 for No. 2, etc.). While voters aren't obligated to rank the CFP winner No. 1, the AP Poll remains a significant indicator of team prestige. For instance, in 2017, undefeated UCF received four No. 1 votes despite not being the CFP champion.

The Coaches Poll mirrors the AP Poll, starting with a preseason top 25 and continuing weekly. It also uses a points system (25 for No. 1, 24 for No. 2, etc.). The Coaches' Trophy is awarded to the national champion, previously the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) winner.

Alabama holds the record for the most season-ending No. 1 rankings in AP Poll history with 12, while Minnesota claimed the first AP title in 1936. Notably, the AP Poll allows voters to rank Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams, a rule prompted by Appalachian State's 2007 upset of Michigan.

EA Sports College Football 25: School Ratings and Royalty Tiers

EA Sports College Football 25 employs a unique system to determine school ratings and associated royalty payouts. This system categorizes programs into four tiers based on their performance in the AP Poll over the past decade (2014-2023).

The AP Poll as a Primary Tiering Variable

According to documents, a school's finish in the final AP Top 25 rankings dictates its tier. Each Top 25 finish earns the school one point, and the total points determine the tier. While the AP Poll served as the primary football tiering variable, the current standard is not set in stone for future years.

Royalty Payments and Game Success

Schools receive royalty payments based on their tier, with a minimum payment of over $5.3 million distributed among all 134 FBS schools. Additionally, schools receive 10 percent royalty on sales. While a breakdown of how additional revenue from exceeding minimum guaranteed royalties would be distributed is not listed, the documents state CLC is hopeful sales of the game will exceed the minimum guaranteed royalties, and increase revenue.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Examples of Tier Placement

Washington and Texas, both Tier 2 schools, reached the upper echelons of college football last season, with Washington losing in the CFP championship after defeating Texas in the national semifinals. The Huskies are also the only team with multiple CFP appearances (two) to not make Tier 1.

Player Compensation

EA Sports College Football 25 will pay each athlete who opts into the game $600 plus a free copy of the game. With at least 12,400 players opting in, EA will pay over $7.4 million to players, excluding payments to cover athletes.

Dynasty Mode: Building a Legacy

Dynasty Mode in College Football 25 offers players the chance to build their coaching legacy and program. Key aspects include:

Building Your Coach

Players can create their own coach or assume the role of an existing one, with authentic real-life head coaches and coordinators featured. The coach's abilities are based on RPG archetypes, and managing staff is crucial.

Building Your Program

Recruiting is vital, with a focus on high school talent and utilizing the transfer portal. In College Football 26, we still have the same core goals in mind - making recruiting feel personal, differentiating players and regions, and making the portal even more authentically unpredictable.

Delivering the World of College Football

The game reflects the evolving college football landscape, including custom conferences, scheduling, and playoff structures.

Coach Customization and Progression

Players can customize their coach's appearance, demeanor, and stance. The maximum coach level has been increased from 50 to 100, and the progression system has been rebalanced. Archetypes like Recruiter, Motivator, and Tactician offer unique XP ceilings and trade-offs.

Staff Management

Coordinators contribute to XP growth, and offer logic has been rebalanced for head coaches at top-tier programs. Players receive notifications about staff moves, with details on previous roles and reasons for job changes.

Trophy Room

The Trophy Room showcases championships, rivalries, and awards earned throughout the Dynasty. It tracks over 160 rivalry, bowl, and individual award trophies.

Transfer Portal Dynamics

The transfer portal is a key element, with unpredictable roster movement and player expectations. In College Football 26, we’ve pushed to fully capture the essence and chaos that defines this era of roster movement. Each player has a dealbreaker, and dynamic dealbreakers reflect evolving expectations.

Player Expectations

Managing player expectations is crucial for roster retention. Factors like playing time and NIL opportunities influence player decisions.

AAC Team Ratings and Prestige

The American Athletic Conference (AAC) has undergone significant changes since NCAA 14. The current AAC features 14 programs, with only Memphis, South Florida, and Temple remaining from the original lineup.

AAC Team Ratings in EA Sports CFB 25

Memphis: 85 Overall, 85 Offense, 82 Defense
Tulane: 80 Overall, 80 Offense, 82 Defense
South Florida: 80 Overall, 84 Offense, 76 Defense
UTSA: 80 Overall, 79 Offense, 76 Defense
Rice: 78 Overall, 70 Offense, 74 Defense
Charlotte: 77 Overall, 73 Offense, 74 Defense
East Carolina: 77 Overall, 74 Offense, 73 Defense
Florida Atlantic: 77 Overall, 71 Offense, 74 Defense
North Texas: 77 Overall, 70 Offense, 74 Defense
UAB: 76 Overall, 76 Offense, 76 Defense
Navy: 76 Overall, 66 Offense, 74 Defense
Tulsa: 74 Overall, 73 Offense, 70 Defense
Army: 73 Overall, 69 Offense, 69 Defense
Temple: 73 Overall, 67 Offense, 66 Defense

AAC Program Prestige

Program prestige, rated on a star system, plays a key role in recruiting. The highest-rated programs have 5 stars, while the lowest-rated have 1 star. No AAC program is rated higher than 2.5 stars.

Army: 2.5 stars
Tulane: 2.5 stars
Memphis: 2 stars
North Texas: 2 stars
Tulsa: 2 stars
UAB: 2 stars
East Carolina: 1.5 stars
Florida Atlantic: 1.5 stars
Navy: 1.5 stars
South Florida: 1.5 stars
Temple: 1.5 stars
UTSA: 1.5 stars
Charlotte: 1 star
Rice: 1 star

Top Players in the AAC

Tulane running back Makhi Hughes is the highest-rated player in the AAC at 90 overall. Other top players include Seth Henigan (QB, Memphis), Sean Atkins (WR, South Florida), and Dean Connors (HB, Rice).

Homefield Advantage

The College Football 25 game highlights the significant impact of Homefield Advantage on game outcomes. The development team meticulously compiled a list of the Top 25 Toughest Places to Play, factoring in historical stats such as home winning percentage, game attendance, active home winning streaks, team prestige and more. This includes dynamic elements like audio and in-game modifiers such as blurred routes, incorrect play art, effects on confidence and composure, and screen shaking that away teams and players must contend with.

Virginia Tech's Ratings Breakdown

Virginia Tech earned recognition across various ranking categories:

Toughest Places to Play: Lane Stadium secured the No. 17 spot among the Toughest Places to Play.
Offensive Power Rankings: The Hokies ranked No. 24 in overall offensive power rankings with a score of 83.
Defensive Power Rankings: Virginia Tech ranked No. 14 with a score of 86.
Team Power Rankings: The Hokies earned a spot at No. 20 with an overall score of 87.

Ranking Teams: A Detailed Approach

Creating a comprehensive top 25 ranking requires a meticulous process that considers various factors. Here's a detailed approach.

Initial Ranking: The First Draft

Start by creating an initial top 25 list based on a "feel"-based assessment. This involves considering team performance, key wins, and overall perception.

Strength of Schedule Analysis

Analyze each team's strength of schedule in detail. Document each team's relevant record, including wins and losses against ranked opponents. Indicate the ranking of their top 25 opponents and note any losses to unranked teams.

Point Adjustment System

Implement a point adjustment system to refine the rankings. For each loss to a lower-rated team, subtract one point. For each win against a higher-rated team, add one point. This helps to account for upset losses and impressive wins.

Comparative Analysis

Compare teams with similar records and point totals. Evaluate their performance against common opponents and consider the timing of their losses. For example, a late-season loss may be more impactful than an early-season loss.

Continuous Revision

The ranking process is iterative. After making adjustments, review the entire top 25 to ensure consistency and accuracy. Consider how changes affect earlier decisions and make further adjustments as needed.

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