20 Teams for your College Football 25 Dynasty
We are less than a month away from the video game release and we're all wondering who to build our dynasty with. I've got you covered.
EA Sports is finally back in the game with the release of College Football 25! If you are anything like me you have been reading every detail you can about the game's release and what features will make their appearance again, as well as what new features the game has. I live and die for dynasty mode! Sometimes I like to start at a top program as a coordinator and work my way into a head coach role, sometimes I like to start at an up and coming program and take them over the top, but most times I start at a lower level program and build them into a powerhouse of college football. Today we will go over some of the teams I will be playing with and who I can’t wait to turn into a blueblood program.
When I start to consider who I want to play with in a dynasty there are a few things that are more important than others. First, the stadium has to be cool. I don’t need Neyland Stadium or the Big House but I need something visually pleasing. Secondly, I need a roster that is ready to rebuild. I look for rosters that are going to bring back a lot of starters for my second season. I don’t want a veteran QB or RB - Ideally the roster will have a sophomore at both positions and a few returning offensive linemen. Lastly, and most importantly, uniforms. I’m not playing with a school that has goofy uniforms. Rosters will change drastically, especially after my stellar recruiting, but the uniforms are the key to dynasty success. I need multiple uniform combinations and a tough color scheme. If you have a bad helmet or only a home and away jersey you’re probably out of the running.
Complete Rebuilds - You’ll need to start from near the bottom and build these schools
—Army ( or any service academy)
I can guarantee you that I will rebuild the Army Black Knights! I’m a sucker for the service academies but my dad might disown me if I played with Navy or Air Force, so it’s Go Army for this family. Also, I played in and coached the flexbone offense so it’s a little nostalgic for me to run the flexbone triple option and throw the ball four times a game. It’s really a natural fit for my dynasty. And if you can't get excited about building a service academy into a blue blood progrum then you might want to check your pulse.
Roster Grade: C-
Army has a senior QB and four senior starters on the offensive line. Ouch.
Field / Stadium Grade: B+
Michie Stadium is small and nothing too exciting, but if EA brings in the game ball presentations and some of the other elements of Michie Stadium then it’s going to be good enough for me.
Uniform Grade: A++
NO ONE, and I mean no one, will have better uniforms than Army. Even if we don’t get alternate uniforms from the Army/Navy games, and I think we will, Army still has some tough uniforms with their black and gold color scheme.
—Eastern Michigan
What Eastern Michigan lacks in personnel they make up for with field and uniform. I can rebuild a roster, I can’t rebuild a stadium or uniforms (I don’t think).
Roster Grade: C
Eastern Michigan doesn’t have the roster that I like. Too many seniors at key positions (QB/RB) for me to get excited about. 3-star QB recruit Jace Stuckey would probably be starting game 1 for me regardless of rating.
Field / Stadium Grade: A+
Decades ago Boise State made waves with their blue turf. Now, many teams offer more than just green. Eastern Michigan has a cool look and I’m excited to see their gray field in the game.
Uniform Grade: A+
On top of that gray turf are some pretty legit uniforms too. EMU has green, white and gray for their helmets, jerseys and pants. A very solid combination.
—FIU
My sleeper team is FIU! They have everything I’m looking for in my rebuild AND would be a perfect fit (in Miami) in the ACC or SEC when I’m ready.
Roster Grade: A+
The FIU roster was not what put them on my radar but it’s a great roster for my rebuild. Coming off a 4-8 season they are primed for a big jump. Sophomore QB Keyone Jenkins is perfect for my spread triple option and junior running back Shomari Lawrence can rack up 2000+ rushing yards in his two remaining seasons. The offense returns 10 starters for year two and the defense returns five - assuming they don't get replaced in the portal.
Field / Stadium Grade: A+
FIU made national news in 2022 by offering multiple field looks - a different look for every home game. FIU is doing what Oregon did in the early 2000s but doing it to their field as well. I’m not sure how much EA will let them change their field but they have a legit stadium too.
Uniform Grade: A+
The traditional navy blue and gold color scheme is good but the Panthers also have very nice alternate uniforms that will hopefully make it into the game. FIU offers a “vice” uniform with a black and pink color scheme and a “Biscayne Blue” alternate as well.
—Kennesaw State
The ultimate rebuild! Kennesaw State will most likely be the lowest rated team in the game but as Tom Brady once said “football is hard, and that’s why everyone should play it”
Roster Grade: B
The Owls have a sophomore at QB which is perfect for me and they also return almost every starter for year 2. The bad side is that they will be one of the lowest rated rosters in the game. They might return a lot of players but most of them will need to be replaced.
Field / Stadium Grade: B+
Fifth Third Stadium is new and unique. It’s small but I’m eager to see what it looks like in the game. Hopefully their unique canopy section appears in the game. The field also offers alternating greens which gives it a nice look.
Uniform Grade: A+
The black and yellow uniforms are NICE! The Owls don’t have a uniform combination I don’t like. Yellow helmets with black jerseys and pants are hard to beat, but so are their all yellow uniforms. Kennesaw State might have the best uniforms in the game.
Mid-Tier - They have had some success but are nowhere near elite.
These teams already have something in place and just need someone to take them to the promised land. These won’t be my first options when starting a dynasty but they might be programs I look at for my second job.
—Wyoming
Roster Grade: C
The Cowboys return a lot of players for year two but not much to offer in year one. QB Evan Svoboda is a massive 6-foot-5, 245 pounds but I’m not sure if he is the ideal fit for my spread option offense.
Field / Stadium Grade: A-
What Wyoming lacks in roster they make up for with field art. The mountains in the endzone is a nice touch and it’s hard to beat that Wyoming Cowboy logo at midfield.
Uniform Grade: B+
Let’s be honest, brown and yellow are a tough color scheme to make look good. BUT, I like the Wyoming uniforms. They are unique and offer a lot of good color combinations.
—North Carolina
Roster Grade: B+
The Tar Heels have to replace Drake Maye at QB this year but do so with sophomore Conner Harrell. The most attractive roster piece is junior running back Omarion Hampton. Hampton was a Doak Walker candidate last year and could be a two-time winner in my offense.
Field / Stadium Grade: B-
The Carolina Blue stadium is a solid look. It’s simple but also traditional and that’s a win for me.
Uniform Grade: A
The UNC all white uniforms are a classic look but I’m a fan of the all blue as well. The Tar Heels also have their black alternate uniforms - which I will be wearing for night games.
—Arizona
Roster Grade: A+
The new members of the Big 12, or Allstate 12, have a ready to go roster. Sophomore QB Noah Fifita is a legit Heisman candidate and WR Tetairoa McMillan might be the most fun receiver to use in the game - he’s 6-foot-5! Arizona might have the best roster in the game - outside the bluebloods like Texas and Georgia.
Field / Stadium Grade: B
The stadium is good enough but I do like the Arizona logo and the font they use in the endzone.
Uniform Grade: A+
Three helmets, three jerseys and three pants with a solid color scheme? That’s gonna be a yes for me, dawg!
—Oregon State / Washington State
The biggest thing with the Pac 2 is that you get to build a new conference or move them to a new conference. There is plenty to look forward to with these two.
Roster Grade: C
Neither team has much on the roster but both have a young QB in place and enough tradition that you should be able to pull a good recruit.
Field / Stadium Grade: B+
The field and stadiums are good enough. I don’t foresee them being anything special but they won’t be negative either.
Uniform Grade: A+
Great uniforms for both squads. Both teams have three jerseys and pants a piece. While Oregon State only has one helmet, it’s one of the best helmets in the country.
—Virginia Tech
Roster Grade: B
The Hokies have something in QB Kyron Drones and they return all 11 starters this year. In year two they will return four starters on the offensive line and QB Kyron Drones. The defense will have to replace a lot after year one but they are bringing in three four-star recruits on the defensive side. Definitely something to build with.
Field / Stadium Grade: A+
I don’t know if EA can capture the greatness of Blacksburg but we all know it’s there.
Uniform Grade: B+
The VaTech uniforms have been all over the place over the last decade but the helmet is iconic. The Hokies are also bringing back the “Vick throwbacks” from 1999 and that’s probably the only look I will use when playing with Virginia Tech. Anything else will just be a bonus.
—Vanderbilt
Roster Grade: F
It’s not good. And you have to compete in the SEC.
Field / Stadium Grade: A+
The Commodores are getting stadium upgrades that are rumored to be in the game. Honestly, I kind of hope we see the construction going on at the stadium in year one but the renderings look pretty cool and I want to see that in the game too. I’m also a big fan of the simple logo and black and gold endzones.
Uniform Grade: A+
Black and gold is too good of a color scheme in football and Vandy is doing it right. The uniforms feel new and traditional at the same time while also offering a ton of different looks.
Top-Tier Teams (you don’t really want to do this but the roster or uniforms are too cool)
—Oklahoma State - Amazing uniforms, stadium atmosphere and solid roster.
—Kansas - Uniform combinations are top notch, roster will be fun to play with and they’re getting stadium upgrades
—Nebraska - I like using Nebraska to return them to glory. I like the uniforms, they have a freshman QB and an awesome stadium.
—Missouri - fun roster with Luther Burden, great uniforms and a solid stadium with new upgrades
Blueblood programs for beginners, or perhaps a starting point for a coordinator.
—Oklahoma: young roster, sophomore QB
—Texas: Arch Manning and a ton of young talent
—Ohio State: One of the best rosters in the game
—Alabama: Taking over for Nick Saban was always a selling point for me when deciding to leave my program. Now you don’t have to wait!
—Michigan: Taking over for Harbaugh and going back-to-back? Sounds fun and Michigan has an elite stadium and uniforms.