The much-anticipated release of EA Sports College Football 25 is just over a month away, and with it comes the revival of Team Builder. Creating custom teams has always been a cornerstone of the beloved franchise, allowing players to build and manage their dream squads.
To honor its return, here are the 10 teams players should create in the all-new Team Builder, along with several honorable mentions.
Best Teams To Create in EA Sports College Football 25’s Team Builder
According to EA’s blog post, the Team Builder website will allow users to design uniforms, helmets, and fields and upload their own logos. Custom teams will be available to play in private Dynasty leagues and the Play Now mode. Perhaps most exciting is the community center, where fans can download user-created teams.
Truth be told, we couldn’t adhere to the rigid top-10 structure, so we skirted it a bit. Five types of programs (FCS, HBCU, JUCO, high school, and defunct) are listed, with two teams per category and five more honorable mentions.
FCS Teams
FCS teams will not be included at the launch of EA Sports College Football 25, but there is a growing belief that the subdivision could be added later. However, that could take months — if not years — and there is no guarantee. So, while users from across the country will likely band together to create all 129 FCS programs for the game, these are the ones we’d start with.
North Dakota State Bison
Since 2011, the Bison have won nine FCS titles, proving to be the most dominant powerhouse in college football. With QB Cam Miller and defensive leaders DT Eli Mostaert and S Cole Wisniewski returning, they’ll have a shot at another trophy in 2024.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
SDSU has won the last two FCS championships with two different head coaches. The program has long been the little brother to North Dakota State, but times could be changing.
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The Jackrabbits are one of the best teams in the nation, and although several starters left for the NFL this offseason, QB Mark Gronowski returns and is primed to lead the program to yet another title game.
Honorable Mentions
- South Dakota Coyotes
- Montana Grizzlies
- Montana State Bobcats
- Idaho Vandals
- Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (will be in EA Sports College Football 26)
HBCUs
There are five traditional historically black college and university (HBCU) conferences, with two in DI (SWAC and MEAC), two in DII (CIAA and SIAC), and one in NAIA (GCAC). Across every collegiate football level, there are 54 HBCU programs, all of which deserve creation in the Team Builder.
Florida A&M Rattlers
The Rattlers won the Celebration Bowl against the MEAC team listed below them here, and they have the talent to repeat in 2024. But more than that, FAMU has one of the best suites of uniforms in the sport, and their green and orange were meant to be displayed in a modern video game.
If only we were able to add in The Marching 100 as well — perhaps in future iterations of the game.
North Carolina Central Eagles
Davius Richard may be gone, but senior Walker Harris completed 66% of his passes for 439 yards, five TDs, and zero INTs last season. Trei Oliver runs a tight ship and will keep his team competitive; for College Football 25 users, that means a solid roster donning stimulating jerseys, particularly their black tops and bottoms with the maroon helmet.
Honorable Mentions
- Jackson State
- Tennessee State
- Benedict College
- Virginia Union
- Fayetteville State
JUCOs
Fans of Netflix’s “Last Chance U” will finally be able to play as the teams they watched on the show. From Buddy Stephen’s EMCC to John Beam’s Laney and every JUCO in between, these are the best community college football programs to build.
East Mississippi
There really was nowhere else to take the top JUCO spot than EMCC. In head coach Stephens’ 16 seasons at the helm, the Lions have won five NJCAA championships and average 20-25 athletes who go on to play for a four-year college.
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Last Chance U fame? Check. Consistent title contender with elite talent? Check. Top-tier jerseys? Check.
Iowa Western
What about the team that just knocked off EMCC in the title match, 61-14? Since the NJCAA split into two divisions (DI and DIII) and created a new DI national championship playoff system in 2021, Iowa Western has been in each title bout, winning the last two. They are the new top dogs on the JUCO circuit and deserve their spot on this list.
Honorable Mentions
- Lackawanna
- Hutchinson
- Garden City
- Riverside City
- Laney
High Schools
While fans were rightfully disappointed in Dynasty mode beginning after high school, at least they will be able to create the high school team of their choosing in Team Builder.
Mater Dei, California
Mater Dei pumps out elite recruits, including four of the top 10 prospects from California in the 2024 class. Not convinced? Here are some of the top players from the program in recent seasons: Bryce Young, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Bru McCoy, Domani Jackson, Raleek Brown, and Kyron Ware-Hudson.
IMG Academy, Florida
If you thought Mater Dei’s alumni list was impressive, get prepared for IMG’s: Nolan Smith, J.J. McCarthy, JC Latham, Ja’Corey Brooks, Keon Sabb, and Kaytron Allen. The Academy also has one of the best high school football stadiums in the nation.
Honorable Mentions
- Bishop Gorman, Nevada
- St. John Bosco, California
- St. Thomas Aquinas, Florida
- Duncanville, Texas
- St. Joseph’s Prep, Pennsylvania
Defunct Teams
Whether due to financial faults or a clash of identities, several college football programs have ceased to exist over the years. Why not bring them back in EA Sports College Football 25?
Wichita State Shockers
The Wichita State Shockers football team played from 1897 to 1986 and was a part of the Missouri Valley Conference for the last 40 years of its existence. Overall, the Shockers went 375-402-47 and 0-3 in bowls, proving to be a rather unsuccessful football team.
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Since the team’s discontinuation, Wichita State has explored reviving the program four times, but the finances have never worked out. Now, fans can resurrect the team on their own, hopefully bringing the Shockers to more glory than they had in real life.
California Programs
Many California college football teams have gone the way of the dodo, including UC Riverside, Pacific, Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, Sonoma State, San Francisco State, and, most recently, Occidental and Whittier. West Coast users have their pick of numerous programs to return to glory.
Honorable Mentions
- Jacksonville Dolphins
- University of Texas Arlington Mavericks
- Iona Gaels
- Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Nebraska Omaha Mavericks
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