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As July 19th approaches, EA Sports College Football 25 shares their opinion on the country’s top offenses and defenses
With the July 19th release date nearing for the first college football video game in over ten years, EA Sports disclosed their offensive and defensive ratings for College Football 25 on Thursday.
While Doak Cambell Stadium came in at No. 9 for best atmospheres in college football, a fair ranking not considering the dip in capacity, the Seminoles were undervalued for their ability on the field.
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The offense ranked 22nd overall with an 83 rating, behind teams like SMU, Memphis, Colorado and Miami. Defensively, the Seminoles were ranked 11th with an 88 rating but trailing Clemson and Notre Dame, two teams on the schedule next year.
Florida State faces off against five offenses and two defenses ranked above them, proving that its docket is more difficult than it is given credit for.
Did EA Sports get it correct?
While 22nd in the country feels low, this is what Florida State’s offense displayed during spring football. The video game does not trust new Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei or his wide receivers to constantly find each other, a concern that began during the spring. When the player rankings drop, Malik Benson should be rated highly tomorrow, but what would the next highest pass-catcher be? Could any other be over an 80?
Despite the passing game concerns, Florida State deserves a tick higher. They return three out of five pieces along their offensive line, and the top ten players on the two-deep at offensive line are upperclassmen. In the last three seasons, the big uglies have been underrated, and CFB 25 fell into the same trap, leaving FSU with a pedestrian offensive number.
Roydell Williams was featured during Florida State’s brief cameos on the new game, making it seem that the Alabama transfer would be highly rated. His performance during the Spring Showcase opened the public’s eyes to his bruising running style and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, although he displayed those traits during spring camp. Lawrance Toafili usually ends up overlooked, and it can be difficult for a video game to express his leadership. However, his partnership with Williams should be the spark plug of the Seminole offense, and hopefully, EA Sports will reward him.
An exception needs to be taken for the teams above Florida State. All tied at 85 overall, Texas A&M, UCF, Memphis, Notre Dame, and SMU are ranked two points higher than FSU. The Aggies and Irish do not have sure things under center, similar to the Seminoles, and are breaking in new coaching staffs; A&M brings in Mike Elko as head coach, and Notre Dame brings in Mike Denbrock as offensive coordinator. Meanwhile, Memphis and SMU bring back experienced QBs, and each is coming off double-digit win seasons. However, these rosters are still adjusting to power-four football and do not have the depth up front or in the backfield like the Noles.
My rating: 85 Overall, 17th in the country
Florida State’s defense is rated five points and 11 spots higher at 88 and No. 11 respectively, but this ranking is wrong.
The Seminoles bring back a deeper group along the line of scrimmage than last season, with a front four of Patrick Payton, Josh Farmer, Darrell Jackson Jr., and Marvin Jones Jr. that rivals any pass-rush unit in the country. These four are experienced, having played multiple seasons of college football and put in the work in the weight room to become maulers in the run game and explosive when getting to the quarterback. EA Sports must have undervalued Jones or Jackson because they did not play last season. However, their ratings will catapult after they re-introduce themselves to the country during FSU’s stand-alone games.
DJ Lundy and Cam Riley’s partnership as linebackers will be one of the most experienced in the country. They each bring something different to the field but provide veteran leadership to a unit that lost its vocal contributors. The depth behind them is impossible to judge, but if one of Shawn Murphy, Omar Graham Jr., or Blake Nichelson emerges as a trusted three-down backer, the unit will need an apology from the game makers.
The secondary alone should mean the Noles earned a top-ten defensive ranking. Shyheim Brown plays every snap and everywhere as the do-it-all-defender that every elite defense needs. Fentrell Cypress coming back for his second season in garnet and gold means Florida State has one of the most physical cornerback duos in the country, with Azareye’h Thomas lined up next to him. The safety spot next to Brown still seems up for grabs heading into fall camp, but Davonte Brown brings experience and coverage skills that replace what Akeem Dent did last season. The unit’s depth makes it one of the best in the country, as long, talented, and some battle-proven ball hawks waiting in the wings.
Adam Fuller’s unit allowed one touchdown in 11 quarters last season, seven of the 11 presumed starters played valuable snaps in 2023, and the Noles are deeper along the defensive line than last year. EA Sports criminally undervalued what should be the best defense in the ACC and a unit that could be better than what they were with Jared Verse and Braden Fiske.
My rating: 90 overall, tied with Clemson, Alabama, Michigan, and Notre Dame.
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