We know those text threads have been buzzing for years anticipating the release of the new college football video game NCAA 25. The real ones know it is all about the dynasty mode, and new details just dropped about the college football game. As a reminder, the NCAA 25 release date is on July 19, 2024 with the price tag starting at $69.99 for the standard version.
Just in case you need a refresher, here’s the epic NCAA 25 trailer.
So far, it does not look like the NCAA 25 dynasty mode will support cross platform play. Here’s hoping that gets patched into the game as an update once the game is released. The Athletic’s Chris Vannini is among those who took a trip to Orlando to visit EA Sports headquarters to get a sneak peak at the new college football video game.
“Players can coach up to 30 seasons, and dynasties can have up to 32 users either online or offline,” Vannini wrote in a May 29 story titled, “What’s in Dynasty mode of College Football 25? Recruiting, the transfer portal and more.” “Online Dynasty Mode does not have crossplay capability between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
“Custom conferences are back: Gamers can move schools around and put up to 20 teams in a conference. They can’t create new conferences from scratch, but they can build the Pac-12 back up if they’d like,” Vannini added.
“They can choose the number of league games that conferences play and change the location of the conference championship games. All future nonconference games scheduled out in real life show up in this game, even the distant home-and-homes into the 2030s.”
In anticipation of the NCAA football video game series returning from a long hiatus, we’ve put together our power rankings for the top dynasty teams. A few important notes on the rankings criteria. You will notice these are all Group of Five programs.
More power to you if you want to play with Alabama or Georgia, but the fun of the dynasty mode is building a smaller program (or progrum if you’re from the South). Keep in mind, thanks to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, there will be at least one spot going to a Group of Five team. You can also use the success you have had a lesser known school to take another job.
We don’t know the ratings yet for the NCAA 25 teams, so our power rankings are based on programs that can have staying power in the dynasty mode.
Be sure to drop your NCAA 25 dynasty rankings in the comments.
No. 1 Boise State Broncos
College football’s original Cinderella feels like it is in its own category. Boise State is a major brand but remains in the Mountain West despite plenty of realignment rumors over the years (RIP Big East).
Idaho is not exactly known as a recruiting hotbed, but the Broncos’ brand should allow you to land players. You get to play on the blue turf with amazing uniform combinations.
Boise State has not been the perennial threat to make a New Year’s Six bowl game recently. It’s time to turn this school into a College Football Playoff contender.
As an added bonus, you get to start off with former USC five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson on the squad.
No. 2 Tulane Green Wave
Tulane is finally having their moment. Despite a rich history of success, Tulane’s football program struggled in recent decades, partly as a result of the unfortunate circumstances following Hurricane Katrina.
The Green Wave has one of my favorite venues in Yulman Stadium. A beautiful campus located in New Orleans’ Garden District. Louisiana is one of the more underrated states to recruit, and you are also a threat to snag some ‘croots from nearby Texas.
This color scheme, logo and uniforms are one of the best combos in college football. Plus, you get to eat in NOLA every day. Willie Fritz built Tulane back up in the AAC, and this is a strong dynasty pick for NCAA 25.
No. 3 Appalachian State Mountaineers
App State has an impressive history of pulling off upsets over the likes of Michigan and Texas A&M. The appeal to playing as the Mountaineers is a long list.
You get to play at “The Rock” with iconic views of the mountains and solid fan support. App State should start out with a strong rating making you a threat for that College Football Playoff spot.
No. 4 FAU Owls
Lane Kiffin made FAU cool and while the Twitter troll may no longer be in Boca, his impact remains. Florida is one of the top states to recruit, and what better place to lure players than a campus near the beach?
Cool uniforms. Prime recruiting location. What else do you need to build a dynasty?
No. 5 Texas State Bobcats
The portal kings are going to be a popular pick for CFB hipsters in the dynasty mode for NCAA 25. This is a rising program that still presents a challenge for you to climb the rankings. The makings are there to build a powerhouse thanks to previous success and a prime recruiting location in Texas.
No. 6 James Madison Dukes
The Dukes are thriving in the Fun Belt and are becoming another hipster favorite thanks, in part, to their “College Gameday” appearances. Their logo is a bulldog with a crown. Does not get much better than that.
The Virginia location still gives you access to recruit the South. Success with JMU in the game likely will allow you to take a bigger job, but you may just decide to stick around.
No. 7 Liberty Flames
Take or leave the school’s politics, but it is hard to argue with their upside as an NCAA 25 dynasty option. Fresh off their Fiesta Bowl appearance, Liberty is a strong choice. This can be a longterm home, or have success here to land your dream job. Looking at you, Hugh Freeze.
Also, who can forget this amazing meme?
No. 8 Georgia State Panthers
This is a sleeper dynasty selection given it’s Atlanta location. Since Georgia Tech has yet to figure out how to recruit the ATL, why not give the Panthers a try?
Georgia State plays in the Braves old Turner Field ballpark located in downtown Atlanta. Call up Migos, 2 Chainz, Ludacris and Big Boi to get them on the sideline during recruiting visits.
The Panthers have had success in basketball, but the football program could be a potential sleeping giant. You could do worse than getting Georgia’s recruiting leftovers in one of the most talented states in the country.
No. 9 Wyoming Cowboys
EA Sports sold me thanks to the sick Wyoming intro revealed in the trailer. This is another hipster pick with its own logistical challenges, but some like things hard.
This feels like the “Yellowstone” pick of NCAA 25. You’re going to have to get creative in recruiting. Build up a band of underrated outlaws who wants to come out West.
Great uniforms and a strong homefield advantage at War Memorial Stadium. Take me to Laramie in NCAA 25. Who doesn’t love a good snow game?
No. 10 San Diego State Aztecs
It feels like San Diego State was continuously mentioned in conference realignment rumors. Yet, the Pac-12’s demise indirectly became a blow for the Aztecs, permanently taking this jump off the table.
There is still a lot to like here, namely the San Diego location. We needed a California school on this list given it is one of the best states for recruiting. You also can do much worst than living in San Diego.
As an added bonus, San Diego State opened their new Snapdragon Stadium in 2022.
is a sports and news contributor based in Atlanta, Georgia. For more than a decade, Jonathan has written for top media outlets like SI, Athlon Sports, Heavy.com and BetUS among others. Jonathan has traveled all over the world, attending major sporting events in England, Brazil, Italy and Spain. He graduated from UCF with a Master of Sport Business Management degree and has worked inside the industry in a variety of capacities in the sports world. Follow him on Twitter @JonDAdams.
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