EA Sports prepares a fresh take on college football
The upcoming installment of EA Sports' college football franchise is slated to hit the market on July 9, arriving simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles and PC. The title will revive the long‑absent mascot mode, a fan‑favorite feature that lets players control a team's mascot on the field, and will welcome two new Football Bowl Subdivision programs – North Dakota State and Sacramento State – expanding the roster of participating schools.
Alongside the gameplay additions, EA has announced a shake‑up of its commentary booth. Longtime analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who has been a staple of both the network’s College GameDay and the series’ previous video‑game releases, will not appear in the new game. Taking his place, former Colorado quarterback and Fox Sports personality Joel Klatt will join the broadcast team, bringing a fresh perspective to the virtual sidelines.
Commentary roster undergoes a change
The revised commentary lineup also retains a host of recognizable voices from the series’ history, including Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Lee Corso, Chris Vannini, Chris Fowler, Jesse Palmer, David Pollack and Kevin Connors. Their presence is intended to preserve the familiar energy that longtime fans associate with the franchise while integrating new talent.
Industry observers expect the blend of established personalities and fresh faces to influence how the game is received by the community. Early previews suggest that the combination of updated gameplay features and a revamped audio experience could set a new benchmark for sports titles on current‑generation hardware.