Iowa Hawkeyes sneak onto EA Sports College Football 25 leaked cover

The Deluxe Edition cover art for the returning EA Sports College Football 25 video game series leaked Friday morning and it took the college football world by storm. The cover is as highly anticipated as the game itself, and while this may be a special edition cover, it lived up to expectations.

The cover primarily featured Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Colorado defensive back and wide receiver Travis Hunter, and Michigan running back Donovan Edwards. More than a dozen other players grace the cover, though only Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, and Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins are recognizable.

It comes as no surprise, but the Hawkeyes did not have a player featured on the cover. In fact, none of the helmeted players on the cover are clearly wearing an Iowa uniform. However, the Hawkeyes did sneak onto the cover art in a different manner.

Amongst the flags in the background, the Hawkeye logo graces a black flag between Ohio State and Kansas State on the left side of the cover art. This is the first reference to Iowa football on the cover of the game series, so it's cool to see the program be a part of the beloved franchise in its return.

The cover was leaked inadvertently by the PlayStation Store, as well as a screenshot featuring Notre Dame. EA Sports later put a countdown clock on its website counting down to the anticipated reveal of the game on May 16 at 11 a.m. ET. The game itself doesn't have a confirmed release date yet, but it is expected to release in mid-July.

Iowa may not be a flashy team that throws the ball around the yard, but players who enjoy tough defense and power running will have a lot of fun with Iowa out of the box. Soon we'll have an idea of how the Hawkeyes' overalls shake out. Fans can likely expect tight end Luke Lachey and linebacker Jay Higgins to top the roster's ratings.

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