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After more than a decade-long wait, the return of EA Sports' College Football 25 is finally on the horizon. The highly-anticipated official launch date is approaching. One of the most beloved features of the game—Dynasty Mode—is making a comeback.
Here's a sneak peek at five teams that could be the foundation of your own dynasty in the game. The selection criteria was based on uniform combinations, stadiums, recruiting footprint and the current roster.
No. 5: Memphis Tigers
If you're looking for a team with a high-speed offense that can dominate the stat sheets and potentially force an early concession from the opponent, the Memphis Tigers are the team for you. With a strong 10-3 record last year, including a bowl victory over Power Five Iowa State, the Tigers are confident about the upcoming season. They are set to be one of the top Group of 5 schools in Dynasty Mode, promising an exhilarating journey for any gamer.
The Team
The Tigers are known for their offense, and you will have fun slinging the ball all around the field with Seth Hennigan, one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Throw to talented receivers like Roc Taylor and Demeer Blankumsee. Wear down your opposition with the South Carolina leading rusher transfer Mario Anderson.
The defensive side of the ball is not on the same level as the offense. Still, in the American Athletic Conference, the squad should put you in a spot for a conference championship, and if you can win that, possibly make the new 12-team College Football Playoff. It would help if you took complete control of linebacker Chandler Martin, the team's leading tackler, a year ago.
The Uniforms
The Tigers have some of the best uniform combinations. The official colors are royal blue and grey, and the tiger stripes, which started in 1981, are now available in many colors, from royal blue to black-out helmets. From matte to chrome, the helmet and uniform combinations make Memphis one of the top uniform choices in the game. Nothing beats their all-iced-out white uniforms, just a crisp and solid look for the uniform aficionado.
The Stadium
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is one of the older but still modern stadiums. Visually, this should transfer nicely to the game. The unique design and ample lighting will make night games pop on the next-generation consoles. The Tigers have a passionate fan base, and their crowd interactions during gameplay will be a bonus.
Recruiting Footprint
Being in the heart of the fertile southern recruiting ground and close to Texas puts the Tigers in a very advantageous pipeline situation. The pipelines will be crucial for scoring top recruits who want to stay closer to home. Memphis has an advantage over many G5 schools where they are geographically, and you can take advantage of this by utilizing the team's location to your favor in winning a recruiting battle and even stealing some talent from a top school.
No. 4: Boise State Broncos
Boise State has become like the Gonzaga of college football. They are the little school in the middle of nowhere with a strange field and the heart to slay giants. The Broncos are poised to make a run to the CFP this year as the highest-ranked G5 conference winner.
The Team
The team is set for an explosive offense, with what some consider the No. 1 recruit, 2023 quarterback Malachi Nelson, pairing with superstar running back Ashton Jeanty. Look for this offensive playbook to keep the pedal to the metal.
Defensively, if you choose the Broncos, you will start your first season with eight returning starters led by Ahmed Hassanein. Marco Notarainni is an NFL prospect, and with the defensive front applying pressure, quick turnovers could help you quickly make games out of hand.
The Uniforms
Boise State has a ton of options when it comes to uniforms. The Broncos unveiled a new set of uniform and helmet combinations in a teaser trailer on their X account, from matte helmets to chrome face masks to Broncos script in orange on a blue helmet. The orange, blue and white combination brings a variety of options, and even now, a black kit is available.
The Stadium
Albertsons Stadium, the first Division I football school with turf colored something other than green, and its blue turf have become recognized around the world. The beautiful surroundings plus the threat of cold weather including snow games exist to help make Albertsons Stadium a top venue in the game.
Recruiting Footprint
This category is why I could not place the Broncos any higher. They are a solid team, always finding ways to coach and develop NFL talent. Boise, Idaho, is not on most people's hot-spot list to live and endure winters there, and that location does not give them a great pipeline. You can hope that with most of the old Pac-12 Conference teams bailing for the Big Ten Conference you may be able to persuade recruits by getting them to stay closer to home for more games.
No. 3: Texas State Bobcats
If you are looking to build a dynasty with a G5 school, Texas State should be high on your list as it is mine. The Bobcats have a lot to offer for those gamers that want the real feel of building a dynasty that is not a traditional blue-blood tam.
The Team
The Bobcats bring a lot to the table on both sides of the ball with talent and name recognition heading into your first season at Texas State. Jordan McCloud leads the team at quarterback after transferring in from James Madison, where he was the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year will now propel the league's top scoring offense. Let's not forget about All-American running back Ismail Mahdi with his 1,300 yards from a season ago.
The defense struggled to get teams off the field and out of the end zone, case-in-point giving up 77 points to Arkansas State. The Bobcats deafens gave up an average of 32.8 points per game last year. Kaleb Culp is the team's leading returning tackler at the safety position. Look for defensive end Ben Bell to be able to cause some havoc with his pass rush abilities.
The Uniforms
When you select Texas State as your school of choice you are met with a very clean color scheme of maroon and gold. Like most teams now, the Bobcats do have black alternate jerseys. The gold helmet with the maroon bobcat logo with a maroon face mask is a tough but clean look. The equipment modifications could make your team look even better.
The Stadium
UFCU "Bobcat" Stadium is nestled in San Marcos, Texas, and for some good visuals the shadows could play a factor in the high sun time games. It is a very modern looking smaller stadium that I feel will be a good home environment to take the Bobcats to glory.
Recruiting Footprint
If you are an up-and-coming coach trying to build a dynasty is there any other place you would rather start that journey than in the state of Texas with its extremely fertile recruiting grounds? Texas high school football is on another level than anywhere else in the country except for maybe Florida and California. Send the house to keep local talent in Texas to help the Bobcat reach their destiny.
No. 2: Appalachian State Mountaineers
The Mountaineers are a fun team to build a dynasty with as many did who played the last version of this game back in 2014. Th scenery, the history of going into big Power Five schools and scoring the upsets, the Mountaineers are still a top pick to build your dynasty with.
The Team
Joey Aguilar will have a solid offensive line in front of him to give the quarterback the time needed to make the plays the Mountaineers have become accustomed to. Aguilar was the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and is looking to build on his early success. Running backs Anderson Castle, Maquel Haywood and Kanye Roberts are a trio that could be beneficial with the new wear and tear feature in the game. The three combined totaled more than 1,300 yards.
Defensively for the Mountaineers should be fun for players with the ball-hawking secondary that had a league-leading 15 interceptions. Cornerback Ethan Johnson is a sure tackling cover corner that is comfortable in man coverage. Nate Johnson is an up-and-coming start at linebacker, and at 6-foot-5 he has the build to play on Sundays.
The Uniforms
What can you say but for the G5's most consistent team is their uniforms stand the test of time. The clean black and yellow color combo will always stick out at home or on the road paired with white jerseys. Appalachian State even has a yellow helmet you can dawn. The uniforms are definitely one of the reasons the Mountaineers rank so high on this list.
The Stadium
Kidd Brewer Stadium known as "The Rock" is hands down one of—if not the most—picturesque views in all of sports period. Sitting in Boone, N.C., the visuals for the game in the next generation consoles will make the view for any home game worth the frame rate.
Recruiting Footprint
The pipeline for Appalachian State is good, not great. It's better than Boise States for sure. In the middle of Atlantic Coast Conference territory and close to recruiting hotbeds like Florida and Georgia could lead to getting some talent to put on the black and yellow.
No. 1: Kennesaw State Owls
The Owls of Kennesaw State are the ultimate in build of you truly want the realism of taking a starter school without using the team builder function. With you at the helm maybe the Owls can make the transition to FBS better than when James Madison and Jacksonville State made the leap, and both of those teams had a lot of success.
The Team
With the Run-Pass-Option offense and a lot of youth in the group this offense could lean heavily on the running back Michael Benefield. The senior fished the year strong with multiple two touchdown games to end the season. Christian Moss the transfer from Virgina Tech will be plenty involved in your play calling as well.
Defensively, the Owls will need to prove themselves without a schedule full of non-FBS opponents. Donelius Johnson is the returning leading tackler for the Owls. The other key factor on defense will be South Carolina transfer Donovan Westmoreland.
The Uniforms
KSU Gold, black and grey are the official colors of the Owls. Another team with multiple helmets, pants and jerseys make up nine different combinations for the Owls. With the uniform modification feature before the game starts you can even witch up your cleat color to give you and even cleaner look.
The Stadium
Fifth Third Stadium won't blow anyone away with the visuals, but the quaint setting for an up-and-coming tam will give the crowd a very realistic intimate feel. The attendance at max would be a little over 10,000 fans which gives it a real, up-close and personal environment. The color accents in the stadium along with the gold, black and grey-clad fans will make the Owls feel right at home.
Recruiting Footprint
Smack dab in the middle of SEC country, the Owls have financial backing for Name Image Likeness (NIL) deals that could help land top talent. The owls are centrally located in a talent-filled area with high school football programs that are turning out college stars every year.
Overall Dynasty Thoughts
The Dynasty Mode will be a deep-dive mode for those true gamers that are huge college football fans. Now don't get me wrong, I know a ton of people that are fans of some of the top teams in the game and they will be running the dynasty with the likes of Oregon, Georgia and Alabama to name a few.
No matter what route you take in creating your dynasty, just revel in the fact that after more than a decade College Football 25 is here, and it is glorious. There are bugs and there are patches and improvements that will come, but at a first glance, EA Sports did not fumble the bag on this one.
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