EA Sports is set to release College Football 25 next week but programs like UCF and head coach Gus Malzahn are already using the outlandish rankings as motivation. The video game is going to light a fire under some of the top teams and players in the country.
It is bulletin board material!
Malzahn took over in Orlando prior to the 2021 season. The Knights won nine games in each of his first two years as members of the American Athletic Conference. They went 6-7 in 2023 in their first year in the Big 12.
Although the wins and losses have been up and down, UCF’s offense continues to be explosive. It ranked No. 7 in yards per game last season and No. 16 in 2022. It will likely be even better this fall after the additions of former Arkansas quarterback K.J. Jefferson and Toledo running back Peny Boone.
Malzahn is especially excited about the former. He compared the 6-foot-3, 247-pound signal-caller to his former Auburn quarterback, Cam Newton, at Big 12 Media Days on Wednesday.
Dual-threat guy. Physically, he’s the closest thing to Cam (Newton) that I’ve had. He’s like a running back. He throws a great deep ball. We’re a run, play-action team with emphasis on throwing the ball downfield.
– Gus Malzahn
That is some rather high praise!
Boone joins senior R.J. Harvey in the backfield. The latter ran for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Knights last season. The former went for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns with the Rockets and was in high demand after entering the transfer portal.
All of this goes to say that there are high expectations for Gus Malzahn and his offense this fall.
The College Football 25 ranking does not reflect the recent success or outlook. EA Sports ranked UCF’s offense at No. 17. Its head coach does not agree. He and his team are motivated by the low number.
Gus Malzahn is NOT happy that UCF’s offense ranks 21st in EA Sports CFB 25.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) July 10, 2024
“I call bullcrap on that.” pic.twitter.com/usICoJdAHh
EA Sports has not released a college football video game since 2014. It has been a full decade.
For coaches to be aware of their teams’ status in the game and actively use it to inspire their teams to prove EA wrong is awesome. This upcoming season is going to be so much fun!