With the release of EA Sports College Football 25 just around the corner, there is no better time than now to look back at the teams fans have missed out on since the franchise’s last iteration in 2013. With an emphasis on offensive gameplay and fun factor, which teams will we be creating first in the Team Builder?
EA Sports College Football: Best Teams We Missed Since 2013
10) 2020 BYU Cougars
In a pandemic-altered 2020 season, the Zach Wilson-led Cougars went 11-1 and were ranked in the AP Top 25 for most of the year. Wilson completed over 73% of his passes for 3,692 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just three interceptions, parlaying his success into the No. 2 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. But he wasn’t the only star on the offensive side of the ball.
RB Tyler Allgeier became BYU’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Jamaal Williams in 2016. Former walk-on Dax Milne emerged as the program’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2012. Meanwhile, TE Isaac Rex hauled in 12 TDs, the most since Austin Collie’s 15 in 2008. The defense also had their share of success, cracking the top 15 in both yards and points allowed.
It’s important to note that BYU didn’t play any Power Five teams, but it wasn’t the school’s fault, as most of their games were canceled due to COVID-19. The Cougars bludgeoned the teams in front of them, and that offense would’ve been a treat to play as in NCAA 21.
9) 2017 UCF Knights
The self-proclaimed 2017 national champions, UCF completed their first-ever undefeated regular-season campaign, won the AAC title, and defeated Auburn in the Peach Bowl. The most impressive part is that feat was accomplished just two years removed from a 0-12 season.
Under second-year head coach Scott Frost’s guidance, the Knights led the nation in points per game (48.2) and were fifth in yards per contest (530.5).
QB McKenzie Milton put up a season for the ages, generating over 4,600 yards of total offense and scoring 45 TDs. The shotgun option scheme tormented defenses and got a litany of players involved, as seven produced 200+ receiving yards and six had 100+ rushing yards.
8) 2014 Oregon Ducks
In 2014, the BCS was no more, and the College Football Playoff was born. Oregon was one of the first four teams to debut the new system, but Ohio State reigned supreme in the national championship.
Before that, QB Marcus Mariota became the program’s first Heisman winner, RB Royce Freeman rumbled for 1,300+ yards and 18 scores, and WRs Byron Marshall and Devon Allen blew past defenses with their speed.
NCAA fans were able to play as Mariota in the last two versions of the game, but the QB didn’t reach his Super Saiyan form until 2014, leading the nation in touchdowns responsible for, total yards, and passer efficiency rating.
7) 2018 Oklahoma Sooners
Offense is the name of the game, and the 2018 Sooners scored more than 50 points in half of their games. Heisman-winning QB Kyler Murray dropped jaws with his play in and out of structure, and it helped having speed demon Marquise Brown and do-it-all wideout CeeDee Lamb on the outside.
The ground game mirrored the aerial success, as RB Kennedy Brooks logged 1,000+ yards and 12 TDs while averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Head coach and offensive play-caller Lincoln Riley put his players in a position to produce, making Oklahoma a juggernaut we weren’t able to play as.
6) 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes
Fresh off a 12-2 campaign and with two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year QB Braxton Miller returning, the Buckeyes were expected to flourish once again in 2014. Yet, a season-ending shoulder injury knocked Miller out, thrusting backup J.T. Barrett into the starting role.
But the injury bug wasn’t through with Ohio State. Barrett broke his ankle in the regular-season finale, forcing redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones to step up — and step up he did.
Jones led the team to wins in the Big Ten Championship, Sugar Bowl, and 2013-2014 National Championship in his first three career starts. The Ohio State QB famously loved the original video game, and we’re sure he would love EA Sports College Football 25 just as much.
Ohio State QB Cardale Jones clarifies: when playing kid in hospital at video game, he didn’t win by 56.
He won by 63. pic.twitter.com/PvGbFRb0Wa— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 10, 2015
Of course, having a 1,800-yard and 18-TD RB in Ezekiel Elliott eased the pressure on the Buckeyes quarterback, and the defense was loaded with future NFLers: EDGE Joey Bosa, LBs Darron Lee and Raekwon McMillan, CB Eli Apple, and S Vonn Bell.
5) 2023 Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines were methodical en route to a 15-0 record and a national title last season. Behind an offensive line full of future NFL players and handing the ball off to Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, all QB J.J. McCarthy had to do was keep the offense on track and limit mistakes, which he did.
Although they didn’t produce as much as they could’ve in more pass-heavy offenses, WRs Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson and TEs Colston Loveland and AJ Barner were efficient with their opportunities. However, the defense played more than complementary football, allowing the fewest points (9.5) and second-fewest yards (239.7) per game in the country.
4) 2018 Clemson Tigers
In 2018, true freshman Trevor Lawrence threw for 3,280 yards and 30 TDs to just four INTs, and Travis Etienne rushed for 1,658 yards and 24 scores.
Meanwhile, the defense led the nation in several defensive statistics, chief among them points allowed (13.1). As a result, it’s no surprise the Tigers outscored No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 1 Alabama 74-19 in the College Football Playoff.
3) 2022 Georgia Bulldogs
Take your pick between the 2021 and 2022 national champion Georgia squads, but we are going with 2022 here as the Bulldogs went undefeated and obliterated TCU 65-7 in the title match — the biggest blowout in bowl game history.
The offense often took a backseat to the defense, but Steston Bennet threw for over 4,000 yards, and three RBs had at least 500 rushing yards and seven TDs. Ten Bulldogs were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft after 16 went the year prior, accentuating Georiga’s utter dominance.
2) 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide
The 2015 and 2018 iterations of the Crimson Tide also deserve consideration, but the 2020 team was one of the best of all time. DeVonta Smith was the first receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991, receiving the award over fellow finalist and teammate QB Mac Jones. RB Najee Harris also bowled over defenses to the tune of 1,466 yards and 26 TDs.
Even play-caller Steve Sarkisian got in on the awards, winning the Broyles Award for the top assistant. Alabama went 13-0, throttling Ohio State 52-24 in the title bout, and had a double-digit margin of victory in all but one contest.
1) 2019 LSU Tigers
There isn’t much that hasn’t been said about LSU’s record-setting 2019 season. Powered by future first-round at quarterback (Joe Burrow), wide receiver (Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson), and running back (Clyde Edwards-Helaire), the offense ranked No. 1 in PPG (48.0) and YPG (568.0).
KEEP READING: Predicting Top 10 Highest-Rated Teams in EA Sports College Football 25
LSU played seven teams in the top 10, de-cleating all of them. Here are just a sample of the records individual Tigers and the team as a whole broke in 2019:
- Most passing TDs in a season: Burrow (60)
- Most TDs responsible for in a season: Burrow (65)
- Most total yards of offense in a season: Burrow (6,039)
- First team to go 15-0 or better in SEC history
- Most receiving yards in a national championship: Chase (221)
- Most passing TDs in a national championship: Burrow (5)
- Most TDs responsible for in a CFP game: Burrow (7 vs. Oklahoma)
- First SEC team to have a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard WRs, and a 1,000-yard RB in the same season
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