With College Football 25 just on the horizon, let’s take a closer look at the top teams that present both exciting and difficult challenges for rebuilding in Dynasty mode.
After a gap of more than ten years, EA Sports will be releasing a new official college football game, College Football 25, worldwide on July 19. And, as expected, the game will feature the popular Dynasty mode, which was a key feature in the previous NCAA Football franchise.
The Dynasty feature in college football is comparable to Franchise mode for those who are not familiar with the NCAA Football franchise. With this feature, players have the opportunity to manage a college football team, recruit players, and strive to achieve unprecedented success for their school.
As we approach the release of College Football 25, let’s take a look at 12 schools with the most promising teams for those seeking a zero-to-hero rebuilding experience.
Arizona State University
Despite finishing in the bottom of the conference alongside Stanford, Colorado, and Washington State, Arizona State remains a top choice for the list. The Sun Devils had a disappointing record of 2-7 in Pac-12 and 3-9 overall during the conference’s final campaign.
In 2023, ASU had another 3-9 season, making it their second consecutive year with this record. Prior to this, Arizona State’s last winning season was in 2021, when they finished with a record of 8-5.
In 2024, the Wildcats will embark on a new era as they join the Big 12 conference. This move comes amidst the downfall of the current Pac 12 and a significant reshuffling of college football conferences.
Although the Wildcats may have some challenges ahead, there are certainly some promising assets on the team. Running back Cam Skattebo, who scored nine touchdowns in the previous season, and quarterback Trenton Bourguet will both be returning for ASU.
Boise State
Despite not being in one of the top conferences, Boise State was undeniably one of the most beloved teams in college football during the 2000s. Led by former head coach Chris Peterson, the Broncos were a dominant force for years, securing Fiesta Bowl victories in both 2007 and 2010.
Despite fluctuations in their performance, the Broncos have maintained a consistent record in recent years, with Boise State winning 10 games two years ago and eight last year.
Despite not being recognized as one of the top conferences in the game, the Mountain West has the potential to elevate Boise State to the same level it reached 20 years ago. Additionally, it provides a chance to compete on the distinctive blue turf.
Boston College
Despite their recent struggles, Boston College was once a powerhouse in college football. This is evident in the fact that the school produced star quarterbacks such as Doug Flutie and Matt Ryan. Even in the previous season, the Eagles managed to secure a bowl game victory over SMU, finishing with a record of 7-6.
Despite the ACC being a relentless beast, teams like Florida State, Louisville, and NC State were among the top performers in the conference. On the other hand, BC finished in the middle of the pack in the year 2023.
Despite showing improvement from their 3-9 season two years ago, selecting Boston College poses one major challenge: can you lead BC to become the top team in the ACC and defeat powerhouses such as Clemson and Florida State, who have dominated the conference in recent times?
Cincinnati
Despite a strong 9-3 performance in the 2022 season, the Cincinnati Bearcats experienced a sudden and drastic decline last fall. They ended the 2023 season with a disappointing 3-9 record and placed last in the Big 12 conference, winning only 1 out of 8 games against conference opponents.
Despite their success in the AAC, Cincinnati’s accomplishments in 2020 were a far cry from their previous season. Led by now-NFL quarterback Desmond Ridder, the Bearcats won 10 games but ultimately fell short in the Peach Bowl against Georgia on their journey to the cup.
Despite no longer having Oklahoma or Texas in their conference, the Bearcats will face a challenging rebuild in a tougher conference.
Navy
Experienced players of the NCAA Football franchise are likely familiar with the Army, Navy, and Air Force’s dominance. In the previous versions of the game, the Dynasty simulations heavily favored teams with a strong focus on running, and the military schools were renowned for their adept use of triple options.
Similar to the Army, the Navy does not have independence in college football. The Navy is actually a part of the AAC. In the previous season, the Midshipmen had a lackluster performance, finishing with a record of 4-4 in conference play and 5-7 overall.
Despite not having a winning season since 2019, Navy is presented with a rare chance to transform from an underperforming military school into a successful college football program in College Football 25.
Rutgers
It can be confidently stated that Rutgers is likely to be a top choice for those looking to rebuild in College Football 25.
Under the guidance of Greg Schiano, who has returned as head coach, and star players such as Ray Rice, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights experienced significant growth in the 2000s and became a prominent program.
Despite joining the Big 10 conference in 2014, things have not been going well for Piscataway, New Jersey. In the past three seasons, Rutgers has only managed to achieve records of 2-7, 1-8, and 3-6 in Big 10 play.
Some key players returning for Rutgers include Kyle Monagai, who was their leading rusher in 2023. The Big 10 is widely considered one of the most competitive conferences in college football, with teams like Michigan, Ohio State, and now Washington and USC dominating the league. Rutgers is sure to face tough competition.
SMU
Forty years ago, SMU had a renowned college football program. The efforts of Eric Dickerson and Craig James propelled the Mustangs to unprecedented success, but the program ultimately faced a downfall due to recruiting violations.
The NCAA dealt the “death penalty”to SMU, which gained notoriety, causing the team’s 1988 season to be canceled, limiting their recruiting efforts, and leading to their decline in the college football realm.
Fast-forward to 2023 and the Mustangs have experienced a significant turnaround. With a flawless 9-0 record in the AAC and an overall record of 11-3, SMU has made notable progress since their 7-6 season just two years prior. Although the program hasn’t reached the level of success seen in the 1980s, it has gained more recognition and admiration.
The question at hand is if it is possible to continue building on this success and potentially lead SMU to once again compete with the top teams. The opportunity for SMU to prove themselves will come in 2024 when they become a part of the ACC, but the crucial question remains: will they be able to capitalize on this opportunity?
Syracuse
Similar to Boston College, the Syracuse Orange find themselves in a difficult situation. Despite a modest 6-7 overall record last season, a majority of their losses came from conference play. In the ACC, Syracuse had a record of 2-6. However, the Orange will have the advantage of returning their top tackler from 2023, Marlowe Wax, as well as their leading rusher, LeQuint Allen.
Despite experiencing some low points in their program’s history, the Orange have had recent success. In 2018, they won 10 games, had a 6-2 record in conference play, and even defeated #15 West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl. However, since then, Syracuse has struggled to maintain this level of achievement.
Similar to Boston College, this will serve as a test to determine if an underrated team can progress in the highly competitive Athletic Coast Conference.
UConn
Despite being led by former NFL head coach Jim L. Mora, the UConn Huskies, an independent FBS team, have not been able to achieve the same level of success as the school’s renowned basketball program. In the 2021 season, they had a record of 1-11 and, although they improved to six wins the following year, they were only able to secure three wins in the most recent season.
Despite participating in two bowl games since the 2011 season, UConn has not experienced much success since its time in the former Big East football conference.
Therefore, UConn presents an exceptionally challenging task.
University of Massachusetts
Similarly to UConn, the UMass Minutemen are a football team that operates as an independent and has faced difficulties in recent times. During the 2022 season, the Minutemen had a record of 1-11, suffering a 45-point loss to Toledo and being shut out by Temple. In the previous season, UMass ended with a 3-9 record, tying with UConn for the lowest ranking among all independent teams.
UMass, much like UConn, finds itself in a comparable situation. Both teams have struggled in recent years and face challenges in recruiting due to their inability to compete with powerhouse programs such as the SEC and ACC, among other factors.
Therefore, is it possible for you to change the situation?
Vanderbilt
When thinking about SEC football, which teams immediately come to mind? Typically, the powerhouses such as Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Florida, and now Oklahoma and Texas come to mind. However, Vanderbilt has consistently been one of the weakest programs in the conference for many years.
Despite having a program history dating back to 1955, the Commodores have only participated in nine bowl games. Since 2013, Vanderbilt has not had a single winning season and went winless in 2020. Additionally, they have suffered 10 losses in two out of the last three years. The team has not produced an All-American player since 2016, when former Eagle Zach Cunningham received the honor.
Despite the presence of numerous powerhouse schools in the SEC, those tasked with rebuilding Vanderbilt will still have to vie for talent with them.
Wake Forest
Last season, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons had a 4-8 record in overall play and a 1-7 record in ACC play. Their sole victory in conference play was against Pittsburgh, leading to a last place finish in the conference.
Surprisingly, this was Wake Forest’s first subpar season in quite some time. Prior to 2023, the Demon Deacons had made appearances in bowl games for seven consecutive seasons. Nevertheless, out of those seven seasons, only one resulted in a 10+ win campaign in 2021 when the Deacons emerged victorious in 11 games.
As previously stated, the ACC is known for its intense competition. The addition of SMU, Stanford, and California in 2024 will only add to the already tough conference, presenting a greater challenge for the Demon Deacons.
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