College Football: 5 must-have features in a new NCAA football game

College football fans have been without a game since the summer of 2013. Here are five must-have features for any potential new NCAA football game.

Historically, the second Tuesday of July marked the release of EA’s NCAA Football series. However, the last installment came out on July 9, 2013- after Ed O’Bannon v. the NCAA monumental case put a halt on college athletics based video games. Since the series ended it’s been a void in the hearts and midnights of many gamers.

The EA series was stopped because it was too close to the real thing without paying for likenesses (ex. QB #15 at the University of Florida being a blonde haired lefty from Jacksonville, FL). It was obvious the game was pre-setting in the real players and coaches right along with their hometowns and eye color. The commentary was even set up for less common names like Tebow that aren’t normal for everyday consumption.

Any college football gaming experience needs the basics: the appropriate campus backdrop, stadium design, uniform combinations, mascots, logos and fight songs will have to be accurate. However, with the current rulings, it will be impossible to get the NCAA on board with that accurate of information without payouts being made. The greatest fear the NCAA has of a college football video game using accurate information is their undying desire to call the current situation “amateurism” as far as the student-athletes are involved.

With IMV flirting with the release of their Gridiron Champions college football game in 2020, let’s take a look at what features are must-have in a new college football game.