EA Sports concludes its update releases with major last slight against the Tennessee Vols
By this point, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that EA Sports has its eyes on some programs that make you really scratch your head. After releasing its rankings for stadium pulse (intimidation factor), offensive rankings, and defensive rankings ahead of its July release of College Football 25, the video game company has shown […]
By this point, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that EA Sports has its eyes on some programs that make you really scratch your head.
After releasing its rankings for stadium pulse (intimidation factor), offensive rankings, and defensive rankings ahead of its July release of College Football 25, the video game company has shown that perhaps realism isn't going to be as much of a consideration as some had hoped it might be.
That's clearly the case on Friday, as EA Sports released its final overall team rankings for the game, this time the overall team rankings. It's no surprise that Georgia topped the list and Ohio State came in right behind them. That's likely what the first true football polls are going to look like come August.
However, the Tennessee Vols – who also inexplicably fell outside of the top 25 offensive list – are nowhere to be found on the top 25 list, which is absolutely absurd. Even more absurd are the teams who've been included. Colorado – who went 4-8, couldn't beat a team for love or money in the season's last two months, and saw an exodus in the transfer portal – is ranked 16 and 87 overall. Virginia Tech, who's been irrelevant for a very long time and went 7-6 last season – is somehow 20 and also 87 overall. Iowa – who the Vols thrashed 31-0 in literally this calendar year – is 25 and 87 overall.
I can hear many fans slamming their keyboards with the buttons that spell "who cares". Well, there are many folks who do care. It's been 11 years since this game – which has been an institution for many college football fans, including Tennessee ones – has been released.
It also means that those who will play with the Vols will be playing with a team that will be tougher to win with because they're overall ranked lower. That means lower-graded players generally across the roster – although James Pearce, Jr. should be a 99 overall if they're paying any attention to the sport they claim to be replicating.
It also serves as a sense of pride for Tennessee fans. It's a public projection of the football program out into the college football universe even though it's on a video game scale. This game was very popular when it was last released and will be of transcendent popularity when it comes out next month.
As such, it's truly unfortunate that the Vols won't be properly represented when the game hits shelves in a few short weeks.
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