Nebraska Cornhuskers' Ratings and Prospects in EA Sports College Football 25
The highly anticipated EA Sports College Football 25 video game, marking the return of the franchise after an 11-year absence, has sparked considerable discussion among college football fans. This edition is the first since NCAA Football 2014, with the publisher having suspended the series due to legal issues that culminated in a class action lawsuit from former college athletes. Following a $60 million settlement in 2016, the path was cleared for the game's revival, now featuring active players through name, image, and likeness deals. Over 11,000 players opted into the game, each receiving $600 and a copy of the game. Amidst the excitement, the Nebraska Cornhuskers find themselves with both accolades and snubs in the game's ratings, setting the stage for an intriguing digital season.
Absence from Top 100
Nebraska football faces a motivational challenge as EA Sports excluded the Cornhuskers from its list of the top 100 overall-rated players in College Football 25. For the second consecutive release, no Huskers made the cut. Despite this, Nebraska's schedule includes matchups against teams featuring a total of 16 top 100 players across six different schools in 2025, a slight decrease from the 19 players they faced in 2024. These top-rated opponents will provide ample opportunities for the Huskers to prove their mettle.
Top Opponents
Nebraska's journey through the 2025 season will see them clash with several highly-rated players. Their season kicks off against Cincinnati, where they will face defensive tackle Dontay Corleone, who boasts a 92 overall rating. Later, in their Big Ten opener against Michigan, the Huskers will contend with four top-100 players: safety Rod Moore (92 overall), defensive lineman Derrick Moore (91), defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny (91), and offensive lineman Giovanni El-Hadi (91). A Friday night game against Minnesota will feature running back Darius Taylor (91) and safety Koi Perich (91). Northwestern's left tackle Caleb Tiernan (91) also presents a challenge. The toughest test comes against Penn State, where Nebraska will face six top-100 players: running backs Nicholas Singleton (93) and Kaytron Allen (92), quarterback Drew Allar (92), defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (92), offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (92), and cornerback A.J. Harris (91). The regular season concludes against Iowa, featuring defensive tackle Aaron Graves (91) and offensive tackle Gennings Dunker (91).
In 2024, Nebraska's most challenging matchup was against Ohio State, who had six players in the top 50 and eight in the top 100 of the EA Sports rankings.
Offensive Prowess
Despite the absence of players in the top 100, Nebraska's offense has garnered significant recognition. The Cornhuskers earned a spot in the top 25 offenses, reflecting the potential of their new playmakers and returning stars, particularly quarterback Dylan Raiola. EA Sports gives Nebraska football an 85 overall, sixth-best offense in the Big Ten. This ranking highlights the anticipation surrounding the Huskers' offensive capabilities heading into the 2025 season.
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The rankings were released as part of the game's "Campus Huddle" that previews new features to the video game and showcases how the real-life teams rank amongst each other. The Huskers landed at No. 24 with an 85 overall rating for its offense. According to EA Sports, NU is the sixth-highest-rated offense in the Big Ten, behind No. 2 Penn State (91 overall), No. 3 Ohio State (91 overall), No. 11 Indiana (89 overall), and No. 19 Oregon (85 overall).
Roster Ratings
EA Sports has released the roster ratings for Nebraska, providing a detailed look at individual player assessments:
- CB Tommi Hill: 89
- S Isaac Gifford: 85
- DT Nash Hutmacher: 85
- OL Bryce Benhart: 85
- WR Jahmal Banks: 83
- TE Thomas Fidone II: 82
- WR Isaiah Neyor: 82
- CB Malcom Hartzog: 82
- OL Justin Evans: 81
- OL Teddy Prochazka: 81
- QB Dylan Raiola: 80
- WR Malachi Coleman: 80
- LB John Bullock: 80
- LB Mikai Gbayor: 79
- RB Emmett Johnson: 79
- RB Dante Dowdell: 79
- OL Turner Corcoran: 79
- S Marques Buford Jr.: 79
- LB Javin Wright: 79
- RB Rahmir Johnson: 79
- LB Stefon Thompson: 79
- OL Ben Scott: 78
- FB Janiran Bonner: 78
- OL Henry Lutovsky: 78
- OL Micah Mazzccua: 78
- DE Ty Robinson: 77
- S DeShon Singleton: 77
- OL Jacob Hood: 77
- S Koby Bretz: 77
- LB MJ Sherman: 77
- WR Jaylen Lloyd: 76
- DE Jimari Butler: 75
- DE Cameron Lenhardt: 74
- OL Grant Brix: 74
- TE Nate Boerkircher: 74
- DT Riley Van Poppel: 74
- LB Princewill Umanmielen: 73
- K Tristan Alvano: 73
- DE AJ Rollins: 73
- WR Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda: 73
- OL Tyler Knaak: 73
- QB Heinrich Haarberg: 73
- DT Brodie Tagaloa: 72
- CB Blye Hill: 72
- S Roger Gradney: 72
- RB Kwinten Ives: 71
- WR Jacory Barney Jr.:As you can see, there is some impressive talent up in Lincoln this year and EA Sports agrees with its ratings.
Omission from Other Rankings
In addition to the top 100 players list, Nebraska also missed out on being ranked among the top 25 toughest places to play and the top 25 defenses or overall teams. These omissions add further fuel to the Huskers' desire to prove their capabilities on the field.
Release and Anticipation
EA Sports College Football 25 is set for release on July 10, heightening the anticipation among fans eager to see how their favorite teams and players perform in the game. The release of the ratings has only intensified this excitement.
Turning the Tide
Entering the second year of the Matt Rhule era, there is plenty of hype around the Cornhuskers. With EA Sports releasing the ratings ahead of the video game release, Nebraska is one of the teams that we know the roster ratings for. The combination of new, explosive playmakers and returning second-year stars like Dylan Raiola positions Nebraska as a team to watch. The question remains: Could this be the season that Rhule turns the Huskers around and gets them into a bowl game for the first time since the 2016 season?
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tags: #nebraska #ncaa #football #25 #ratings
