Everything you need to know about using the Iowa Hawkeyes in EA Sports College Football 25

After an 11-year wait, college football fans will finally be able to play an up-to-date college football video game. The long-awaited release of EA Sports College Football 25 is upon us, and Iowa Hawkeye fans are ready to take the field.

There are a wealth of changes in the game that improve gameplay as well as quality-of-life features in the ever-popular Dynasty Mode. Whether you take the field with the Hawkeyes online, take over with a Dynasty file or join the roster in Road to Glory, there are several things to keep in mind when using the Black and Gold in the new game.

Iowa's Impact Players

Iowa has four players in the top 100 overall players, and they all play on the defensive side of the ball. LSU and Notre Dame also had four players, while only Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State had more. The Hawkeyes are keeping with some elite company in the game.

Linebacker Jay Higgins checks in at a 94 overall, tied as the best off-ball linebacker in the game. Nick Jackson lines up beside him at a 91 overall.

The defensive backfield houses the other two top players with cash safety Sebastian Castro taking the field at 92 overall and strong safety Xaver Nwankpa boasting a 90 overall.

Iowa's defense is rated 88 overall, tied for the fourth-best rating in the game at release. Can you replicate Iowa's dominant 14.8 points per game from the 2023 season?

Iowa's Home Field Advantage

Home Field Advantage is back in College Football 25, and reviewers stress it's more impactful than ever. Luckily, when using Iowa at home, Hawkeye fans will have a considerable advantage.

Kinnick Stadium is the 20th-toughest place to play out of the box, so incoming opponents will be ratled from the first whistle.

Notable features at Kinnick Stadium include The Wave after the first quarter and striped black and gold stands in matchups that call for such an occasion.

Keep in mind, when you hit the road in the Big Ten though, everywhere is tough. Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Oregon and Michigan all have better stadium rankings - so bring a strong game plan with you.

Using the Hawkeyes Properly

It may be a video game, but playing with the Hawkeyes from the start demands you to play realistically. Sure, you could create a coach in Dynasty Mode to replace Kirk Ferentz and switch to a spread offense, but with the roster makeup being what it is, you'll have a bad time.

Your best bet is to stick to the Hawkeyes' established strengths. Lean on the defense and pound the rock.

Defensively, just keeping up with your personnel and keeping everything in front of the defense should pay off. Using Castro as a roaming safety could lead to some big plays too, if you're strong on the sticks.

Offensively, bust out the two-tight end sets and establish the run game. Then, take control of Cade McNamara on play action to find tight end Luke Lachey over the middle for big yardage.

When you hit the recruiting trail in Dynasty, look for players that want to play close to home out of the plains of Mid-America that value conference prestige and a future in the pros. Until you establish the Hawkeyes as a perenial national threat, it's best to hold off on the recruits that want to leave with championships and stack NIL money.

When will EA Sports College Football 25 be released?

EA Sports College Football 25 will officially be released on July 19, 2024, for the Xbox One Series X|S and PlayStation 5. If you pre-ordered the Deluxe or MVP Edition, you can play three days early beginning at 3 p.m. Central Time on Monda, July 15.

The game is now available for pre-order with a Standard Edition for $69.99, a Deluxe Edition for $99.99, and an MVP edition for $149.99 which bundles the Deluxe Edition with EA Sports Madden NFL 25 Deluxe Edition, which will be released in August.

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