Why some Kansas players say College Football 25 video game has made them even better
Like many freshmen, Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall has sought any advantage he can find in adjusting to college football.
Marshall even considered using College Football 25, the EA Sports video game, to help him learn KU’s playbook. The issue is that the game doesn’t have the exact play names that the Jayhawks use, but that doesn’t mean the game hasn’t helped Marshall.
“I feel like from playing Madden and CFB 25 it helps me with coverages a lot more, because I play defense and it shows the coverage,” Marshall told The Star. “Stuff like that helps, too.”
College Football 25 has been the game of the summer for many teenagers and young adults. Without a new version coming out in the 10 years since NCAA Football 14, the hype around CFB 25 was widespread.
Since its release on July 19, the game has caught the attention of nearly every sports video game fan, including the Kansas football team. Whether it provides the Jayhawks an edge on the field or not, CFB 25 is undoubtedly a favorite in the Jayhawks locker room.
Kansas offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes isn’t sure if CFB 25 or Madden gives his players an advantage on the field, but he isn’t opposed to players using it as another tool in their arsenal.
“A lot of players play the game — I don’t know what kind of carryover it is,” Grimes said. “One of the coaches I worked with before used to play a lot, and I would say, ‘Hey, let’s run this play. And he goes, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s killer on Madden, so we will see if it works in real life.’
“I would think any time that you spend thinking about the game is a positive, whether it’s playing Madden or it’s watching a game on TV or studying film or watching an NFL game or (even) watching (your) own practice.”
For the Kansas quarterback group, CFB 25 and Madden have helped them develop into the players they are today.
“I’ve played Madden my whole entire life, and if I want to be honest with you, it definitely did help me be able to find out how defenses run certain stuff,” quarterback Jalon Daniels told The Star. “It helped me be able to figure out coverages. What is this coverage? How are they lining up to this formation and why?”
Backup quarterback Cole Ballard added: “You are on there all summer and you get out here and it’s kind of like you see some things better.”
But not everyone agrees.
If you ask safety OJ Burroughs, he doesn’t believe those games would help him on the field. He even has a major gripe with CFB 25.
“If anything, it makes me mad because defense is not realistic at all,” Burroughs said. “It’s just a high-scoring game.”
KU football players frequently play the game against each other, but certain players have specific rules.
“I like it. It’s good,” wide receiver Lawrence Arnold said. “I liked that they added a little update with the spin moves. It was (overpowered) on there. ... I love my character on there, I only play with my dude. If I play anybody in NCAA and you pick Kansas, it’s going to be Kansas vs. Kansas. Like, I only play with myself.”
As for the best CFB 25 player on the Jayhawks, the consensus is running back Devin Neal.
Neal is an avid player and big fan of the game. He’s rated as a 92 overall in CFB 25, and if you scroll through social media highlights, it’s apparent he’s just as hard to defend in the game as it is for defenses on the field.
“The amount of attention that has been brought my way because of the game has helped a lot,” Neal said. “That’s cool for sure.”
