Maryland Terrapins in NCAA Football 25: A Deep Dive

After an eleven-year hiatus, EA Sports has revived its college football video game franchise with the release of "College Football 25." This highly anticipated game allows fans to immerse themselves in the world of college football, and the University of Maryland Terrapins are well-represented. With over 12,300 student-athletes opting into the game, including 91 from Maryland, fans can experience the thrill of playing as their favorite Terps. The game was released on July 19th.

A Full Circle Moment: Players' Perspectives

Many of the student-athletes featured in "College Football 25," such as redshirt sophomores Daniel Owens and Cameron Edge, grew up playing "NCAA Football 14," the last edition of the game. For them, being included in the new game is a "full circle moment."

"I played NCAA 14 a little bit, but one of my good friends got me hooked onto it about two or three years ago, trying to build my dynasty up," said Owens, a defensive lineman. "It was a great time. We grew up using different teams and looking forward to the future, which we're at right now with the new game. This is a full circle moment, and it's crazy that I'm in it now.”

Edge, a quarterback, shared a similar sentiment: “That was actually the first video game I played on my uncle’s PS3. I was probably six or seven. I played with Oregon all the time during the Marcus Mariota days. I always used that team, and the duck would come out on a bike."

Uniforms, Stadium, and Mascots: Authentic Details

"College Football 25" strives for authenticity, incorporating many details that Maryland fans will appreciate.

Uniforms

Maryland's entire uniform collection from the 2023 season is included in the game. This includes the four Script Terps uniforms in white, red, black, and yellow combinations. The game also features helmet preferences, with Maryland submitting both the Red Terps and Flag Helmet, designating them as 'tier one' assets, meaning they are considered must-have assets in the game.

SECU Stadium

SECU Stadium, the Terps' home venue with a capacity of 51,802, is faithfully recreated with many real-life features. The revamped video board, measuring 120 feet by 54 feet, which has been in place for roughly the last three seasons, is included. The Mark L. Butler Tunnel, through which the student-athletes enter the field, is also featured, complete with the turtle statue at the end. Announcers refer to SECU Stadium as "The Shell" or "The Snake Pit," the latter being a nod to Maryland alumnus and ESPN personality Scott Van Pelt's nickname for the venue.

Testudo

Testudo, the Terps' beloved mascot, is prominently featured in the game. Multiple assets of Testudo, both the mascot and the statue in front of McKeldin Library, are included, adding to the game's authentic feel.

Gameplay and Ratings: A Matter of Perspective

While the student-athletes were generally satisfied with "College Football 25" and its gameplay, some expressed concerns about the team's overall rating and individual attributes.

Team Rating

The Maryland Terrapins are rated 80 overall, with a 76 overall offense and an 80 overall defense. This rating has drawn criticism from some fans, who feel it underestimates the team's potential. Some players pointed out that teams they had defeated in the past were rated higher in the game, despite Maryland's victory.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Individual Ratings

Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II and wide receiver Tai Felton are the highest-rated players on Maryland’s roster, both at 86 overall. Running back Roman Hemby is the second-highest-rated player, with an 85 overall rating. Despite any individual grievances, the players admitted that seeing themselves in a video game is a unique and exciting experience. Some players view any perceived underestimation of their abilities as motivation for the upcoming 2024 season.

Hyppolite shared, “I’ve received a lot of feedback from fans and everyone, how they used me in their ultimate teams or usered me to play against other people and the success that they had. It's just very fun, very humbling to know that I can be an inspiration and can bring people together through a video game.”

Owens echoed this sentiment, saying, “People I haven't talked to since high school are hitting me up. It's good just to reconnect with them.”

Gameplay Impressions

Many players feel that the game successfully captures the feel of college football and differentiates itself from the Madden NFL series.

Owens noted, “They did a good job with how the game feels. It doesn’t feel like Madden. It feels like a different game, but they could have done a little more research with the ratings."

Dynasty Mode and Recruiting Challenges

Players can take on the role of Maryland's head coach in Dynasty mode, where they can build the program through recruiting and player development. However, the game presents some challenges in terms of recruiting. The game inaccurately lumps Maryland into the Tidewater region for recruiting purposes, rather than recognizing the DMV (Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) as a distinct and fertile recruiting ground. This presents a challenge for players who want to emulate Coach Locksley's strategy of prioritizing local talent.

Noteworthy Details and Minor Flubs

While "College Football 25" gets many details right, there are a few minor inaccuracies that Maryland fans may notice. One example is the song played as the Terps run onto the field. In the game, the band plays the school's fight song, while in real life, the victory song is typically played. Another is the pregame ritual involving the Testudo statue. In the game, players touch the turtle's shell before taking the field, while the traditional way to receive luck is to rub the statue's nose.

The 2025 Season and Beyond

The 2025 Maryland Terrapins football team will represent the University of Maryland, College Park in the Big Ten Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Terrapins are led by Mike Locksley, who is in his seventh year as head coach. As fans eagerly await the 2025 season, "College Football 25" provides a virtual platform to experience the excitement of Terrapins football.

Transfers

The transfer portal has seen some movement for the Terrapins, with players like James Thomas Jr. and Brandon Jacob entering the portal. The team has also been active in bringing in new talent through transfers.

tags: #ncaa #football #25 #maryland #details