EA Sports College Football Cover Athlete Betting Odds: Caleb Williams +225 To Don The Cover

EA Sports has been the leader in sports video games since the 1990s and has built beloved franchises across a handful of sports. For example, FIFA dominates soccer video game sales, while Madden has become the only fully licensed NFL video game on the market. But even these professional simulations fall short of the cult-like following that EA's college football series garnered. From 1997 thru 2013, EA's annual college football video game release was a date marked on the calendar by video game enthusiasts of all ages. What started with a pixelated debut on the PlayStation in 1997, quickly grew into a slick, sophisticated, and in-depth college football experience that looked just as good or better than any sports simulation game on the market. Its trademarked "Dynasty Mode" set the standard for an immersive, multi-year mode, and is oftentimes referenced as the greatest single feature in a sports video game of all time. But the series was pulled after the release of NCAA Football 14 due to mounting legal pressure to pay the college athletes portrayed in the game. In the decade since the game's last release, hopes of a return have gone from farfetched to inevitable thanks to a name, image and likeness (NIL) revolution in college sports. And the final piece of the puzzle snapped into place last week as it was announced that players will be getting paid to appear in next summer's release of College Football 25. 

One player, in particular, will be very happy come next summer and that's the featured covered athlete. Dating back to 1997, EA Sports was keen on offering the cover to the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, but there were a few exceptions along the way. With that in mind, sportsbooks are now weighing in on who will be featured on the cover next July. 

EA College Football 25 Cover Athlete

The futures board is awash in Heisman winners, with a belief among insiders in the industry that EA may opt to go with a former winner or a collage of former winners (+1500). There are a handful of players currently playing college football on the board, with the majority playing quarterback. Notable exceptions include preseason All-Americans Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State, WR), Blake Corum (Michigan, RB), Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama, CB), and Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU, LB).