Top Televisions to Consider for 2024 Football Season

Top Televisions to Consider for 2024 Football Season

Two of the best times of the year to purchase a new television revolve around football season: At the start of the season, coinciding with Labor Day sales; and at the end of the season for Super Bowl sales. If you’re in the market for a new television, these are among the best options money can buy in 2024.   LG OLED G4 Let’s start with a clear top-two option, the LG OLED G4. LG has been making premium OLED televisions for years, and they’ve really stepped their game up with the G4. If you are unaware, OLED TVs deliver perfect black levels with self-lit pixels that are turned on and off individually—so the blacks and darkness for movies and shows are superb. The G4 now takes the brightness to…
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‘Madden NFL 25’ Review

‘Madden NFL 25’ Review

There have been plenty of deserved complaints about Madden over the years—from unrealistic gameplay to lack of depth in Franchise Mode to underwhelming presentation. Basically, if EA Sports was going to have the only simulation NFL game on the market, football fans needed it to be better.   Fortunately, it seems steps have been taken in the right direction, including improved gameplay that still feels like Madden but has some positive changes that were perhaps plucked right from College Football 25. In particular, player movements feel more natural, which was one of the priorities for EA based on details leading up to the game’s release.   BOOM Tech (not associated with “The Rizzler”) is the new physics-based system in Madden 25, and it’s something that felt new when jumping into a quick game for the first…
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Why You Should Wait to Start Dynasty Mode in ‘College Football 25’

Why You Should Wait to Start Dynasty Mode in ‘College Football 25’

EA Sports College Football 25 is getting universal praise since last week’s launch. The game builds on the spirit of its predecessor NCAA 14 from a decade ago and delivers excellent gameplay while keeping a college atmosphere vibe, including from the school-band soundtrack. Our full review can be read here.   However, perhaps the most popular mode, Dynasty Mode, is something you should wait to begin. If you do a quick search on X, you’ll see many fans unhappy with the bugs within Dynasty.   There seem to be a bunch of minor issues in Dynasty, but the biggest problem is the current Super Sim Logic. Right now, simulating leads to major problems like:   College Football Playoff seeding is broken (e.g., a team with four losses might be ranked ahead of a two-loss Ohio…
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‘Madden NFL 25’ Gameplay Deep Dive

‘Madden NFL 25’ Gameplay Deep Dive

On the heels of last week’s release of College Football 25, today we got our first in-depth look at Madden NFL 25—with a gameplay deep dive that shows tremendous improvements and an emphasis on realism:   [embed]https://twitter.com/EAMaddenNFL/status/1815763940241989692?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet[/embed]   From new physics-based gameplay to accurate running styles for a player like Isiah Pacheco, it’s clear that Madden 25 will feel a lot closer to real life—with a lot of the player movements looking closer to CFB 25 (which we called "the best sports video game in years") than previous iterations of Madden.   We hadn’t gotten much information on Madden 25 so far, but the gameplay deep dive was a step in the right direction, and Greg Olsen narrating is a reminder that Mike Tirico, Olsen, Kate Scott, and Brock Huard headline the new broadcast teams—another similarity to CFB 25 with…
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‘EA Sports College Football 25’ Review

‘EA Sports College Football 25’ Review

It has been over a decade since NCAA Football 14 was released, and booting up EA Sports College Football 25 for the first time—with an awesome video narrated by Chris Fowler while showing iconic traditions in the sport—immediately brings up nostalgic feelings that carry throughout the entire playing experience.   First of all, it should be pointed out that College Football 25 is not at all a carbon copy of Madden. The gameplay is entirely different with a separate development team that worked on the game, and that’s not just empty talk. As someone that likes to begin with a Play Now game in the newest Madden every year, I wanted to do the same in CFB 25.   To my surprise, I got completely destroyed on All-American difficulty—throwing four interceptions with top-rated quarterback Shedeur Sanders in a 38-10 loss…
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‘EA Sports College Football 25’: Best Teams For Dynasty Mode

‘EA Sports College Football 25’: Best Teams For Dynasty Mode

EA Sports College Football 25 officially releases this Friday, and we anticipate Dynasty Mode being where most spend their time—particularly the millennials that have been waiting for a college football game since NCAA 14. And just like those choosing a school in Road to Glory face a difficult decision, the starting point in Dynasty Mode features plenty of different options.   Perhaps you simply want to go right to a powerhouse like Alabama or Georgia as the head coach, but I prefer taking the more realistic path by starting as the offensive or defensive coordinator at a college with lower prestige. With that in mind, this article will rank ten of the best schools (and roles, whether OC or DC) to consider for those who want to start at the bottom in…
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Best Teams To Use In ‘College Football 25’

Best Teams To Use In ‘College Football 25’

EA Sports College Football 25 just released the top 100 players in the game, so we are getting a fuller picture of what teams will look like ahead of next week’s highly anticipated release. There are a bunch of options, but these are the ten teams we believe will be most potent in College Football 25.   1. Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State has a whopping eight players in the top 100, headlined by safety Caleb Downs (95 overall), running backs Quinshon Judkins (95 overall) and TreVeyon Henderson (93 overall), and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (93 overall). And not included among those eight are star defender J.T. Tuimoloau and quarterback Will Howard, who has the fourth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy and will be operating one of the best playbooks available with…
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‘College Football 25’ Dynasty Details Revealed

‘College Football 25’ Dynasty Details Revealed

We are just two weeks away from the early release of College Football 25, and the news we have been waiting for has arrived with information on Dynasty Mode. The basics can be found in the video below:   [embed]https://twitter.com/EASPORTSCollege/status/1808153815033471275?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet[/embed]   There is also an extremely length and detailed deep dive blog, but it’s clear EA has made Dynasty Mode the focus of College Football 25—from coach progression (compared to a traditional RPG) to in-depth recruiting… and much more.   Realism also seems to be a priority, and although you can immediately jump in and be the head coach at Alabama if you choose, we expect many will want to begin their Dynasty Mode journey as a coordinator at a lower-tier school and work their way up the ranks.   For those who played…
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‘College Football 25’: Top Offenses & Defenses

‘College Football 25’: Top Offenses & Defenses

EA Sports revealed quite a bit of information about College Football 25 over the past few days, and we are exactly three weeks away from the worldwide release of the highly anticipated game (July 19, or earlier on July 16 for those who pre-order).   The team ratings on offense and defense were something fans have been most excited about, and below are the top ten offenses and defenses in CFB 25.   Offense 1. Georgia (94 OVR) 2. Oregon (94 OVR) 3. Alabama (91 OVR) 4. Texas (91 OVR) 5. Ohio State (89 OVR) 6. LSU (89 OVR) 7. Miami (89 OVR) 8. Colorado (89 OVR) 9. Missouri (89 OVR) 10. Clemson (87 OVR)   Defense 1. Ohio State (96 OVR) 2. Georgia (94 OVR) 3. Oregon (90 OVR) 4. Alabama (90…
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EA Sports Releases ‘Madden 25’ Reveal Trailer

EA Sports Releases ‘Madden 25’ Reveal Trailer

While College Football 25 is unsurprisingly getting most of the headlines, Madden 25 is due out this August and EA just released the first-look at the game. The reveal trailer introduces "Boom Tech" system.   https://twitter.com/EAMaddenNFL/status/1803805922826862743   Boom Tech is a physics-based tackling system that's designed to make hits more realistic. EA also says they've made improvements to their FieldSENSE technology.   One thing that stands out is the trailer opening with new Steelers quarterback Justin Fields catching a kick return and handing it to Cordarrelle Patterson. Fields has already said he won't be returning kicks, so putting it in the trailer is a tad odd.   Overall, the trailer seems to give a dumbed-down look into the game. Fans of football have been complaining for years about Madden gameplay. We'll see…
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Christian McCaffrey Revealed As ‘Madden 25’ Cover Athlete

Christian McCaffrey Revealed As ‘Madden 25’ Cover Athlete

Many have their sights set on EA Sports College Football 25 releasing in a little over a month, but Madden is still obviously very popular—and 49ers star Christian McCaffrey has been announced as the official cover athlete:   [embed]https://twitter.com/EAMaddenNFL/status/1800543887624450250?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet[/embed]   The reveal comes after a few days of heavy speculation about Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow being on the cover, but McCaffrey gets the honor after leading the NFL in rushing last year on his way to being named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.   Of course, fantasy football players know McCaffrey is always almost taken as the No. 1 overall selection in most drafts, so some are already claiming the “Madden Curse” could create from hesitation about drafting him first.   On the virtual gridiron, we still don’t have any details about changes…
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EA Sports Officially Reveals ‘College Football 25’ With Game Trailer

EA Sports Officially Reveals ‘College Football 25’ With Game Trailer

College football fans have been waiting over a decade for a new video game for the sport, and the wait is officially coming to an end. EA Sports just released the awesome official trailer for College Football 25.   https://twitter.com/EASPORTSCollege/status/1791483861718663547   For both fans of the old NCAA Football series and a newer generation of fans, it's difficult not to be extremely excited about the reveal. From hearing Chris Fowler's voice to seeing the unique presentation elements for different college football programs within the game, College Football 25 looks like it'll be a major hit.   Furthermore, based on the two-minute trailer, it appears the new game will look and feel a lot like NCAA Football did—being unique and distinct from the Madden series. And it's cool to see mascots…
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Official Release Date and Cover Revealed For ‘College Football 25’

Official Release Date and Cover Revealed For ‘College Football 25’

Football fans have been waiting over a decade for a new college football video game, and the wait is nearly over. After months of hype and speculation, EA officially revealed the cover and release date for College Football 25:   [embed]https://twitter.com/EASPORTSCollege/status/1791122960067264841[/embed]   July 19 is the official release date, but those who pre-order the game or have EA Play can hit the virtual gridiron on July 16, so we are exactly two months away from a new era for the beloved franchise. There is also a standard edition cover featuring the same trio of Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers.   A full reveal of the game will happen tomorrow, which should give us a trailer and additional details—including on Dynasty mode…
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How ‘College Football 25’ Should Be Different From ‘Madden’

How ‘College Football 25’ Should Be Different From ‘Madden’

EA Sports is bringing back its beloved college football series after a long hiatus, and fans are eagerly awaiting the release of College Football 25 this summer. The game promises to deliver an authentic and immersive experience of the sport, with all 134 FBS teams, realistic environments, and a new playoff format. But can it also surpass the quality and innovation of its NFL counterpart, the Madden series, which has been criticized for its lack of improvement over the years?   The talk is that this is not at all a “Madden clone” despite being developed on the same engine. Here are some gameplay features we should see in College Football 25 that can make it superior to the disappointing Madden series:   Dynasty mode Dynasty mode, where players can take control of their favorite team and lead them…
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Predicting Top Rated Players In EA Sports ‘College Football 25’

Predicting Top Rated Players In EA Sports ‘College Football 25’

We’re getting closer. EA Sports revealed that all 134 FBS schools will be in College Football 25, and multiple reports say that over 11,000 players can opt-in while receiving $600 and a copy of the game. So, it’s becoming official, and it has us wondering who the top players in the game will be.   Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter – 97 Travis Hunter seems like the best bet to lead player ratings in College Football 25, and the superstar dual threat will have high attributes across the board along with an overall rating that should be 95+.   Georgia S Malaki Starks – 96 One of the best players in college football regardless of position, Malaki Starks leads what will likely be the top-rated team in the game in the Georgia Bulldogs. The…
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Top Options For The ‘EA Sports College Football’ Cover Star

Top Options For The ‘EA Sports College Football’ Cover Star

After over a decade of waiting, a college football video game will be back this summer with EA Sports College Football. Much has been kept under wraps aside from an expected July 12, 2024 release date, but one of the first things likely to be revealed is the cover athlete. EA used to be limited to using former college stars on the cover of their games, but NIL has changed things. So, it seems likely we’ll get a current player on the cover in 2024, and these are a handful of the top options.   Texas QB Quinn Ewers Texas football is one of the biggest brands in sports, and Quinn Ewers is back for another year after helping the Longhorns get to the College Football Playoff in 2023. Ewers was…
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‘Madden NFL 24’ Review

‘Madden NFL 24’ Review

As the autumn winds begin to swirl and September nears, so does football season—and with it, the annual release of the Madden video game series.   Unfortunately, various issues plagued the early release of Madden NFL 24 on Monday night, which caused many to express their frustration on social media, including NFL stars such as Breece Hall and Marquise Brown:   https://twitter.com/breeceh/status/1691243882292420608?s=42&t=7ugQw7wa9-VTE3xLWbOnyQ     https://twitter.com/primetime_jet/status/1691273357122306048?s=42&t=7ugQw7wa9-VTE3xLWbOnyQ   But now that the servers have stabilized and gamers have been able to dive in, there are definite positives to point to. That said, our review is always fair and coming from the perspective of hardcore NFL fans, so we certainly won’t ignore the negatives with constructive criticism that we can only hope EA Sports will consider for the future.   Gameplay   Based on the strides that…
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Top Ten Tuesday: Best Teams To Use In ‘Madden 24’

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Teams To Use In ‘Madden 24’

Madden 24 is out this week, with early access users able to play already. Many are probably wondering about the best teams to use in the game, and this week’s Top Ten Tuesday ranks ten of the best squads in Madden 24.   10. Miami Dolphins We know about all the speed on offense for the Dolphins, but focusing on the defense, there’s a lot to like about Miami in Madden 24. Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard are one of the top cornerback duos in the game, and the front seven includes options like Christian Wilkins and Bradley Chubb to control. Vic Fangio’s scheme is a boost for the Dolphins, too.   9. New York Jets In addition to Aaron Rodgers and some other former Packers, the Jets just added Pro Bowl running back…
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Features We’d Like To See From NFL+ To Improve The All-22 Experience

Features We’d Like To See From NFL+ To Improve The All-22 Experience

The NFL’s streaming service NFL+ offers access to live and on-demand NFL games, every preseason game, original shows, and more. One of the most popular features of NFL+ is the All-22 Coaches Film, which allows users to watch plays from a bird's-eye view, showing every player on offense and defense at all times from the press box and endzone angles. This feature is invaluable for fans who want to analyze the game in depth, learn more about the best coaches and players, and see the game from a different perspective than you see on television.   However, as great as the All-22 Coaches Film is, there are obvious features NFL+ can consider implementing to improve the user experience. These are some features that NFL+ should implement to make viewing the All-22 Coaches…
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Top Ten Tuesday: Players In An NFL Street Remake

Top Ten Tuesday: Players In An NFL Street Remake

Last week, we highlighted the top players from the original NFL Street video game. But who would be the top players in the game if NFL Street was remade today? This week’s Top Ten Tuesday imagines the possibilities.   10. Jalen Hurts (QB) Jalen Hurts squats 600 pounds, has good size, is a tremendous runner, and is an underrated passer. Using NFL Street attributes, he’d undoubtedly have high marks in Passing, Run Power, and Speed—and probably would be a rare factor among quarterbacks on defense in the two-way, seven-on-seven gameplay style.   9. Jonathan Taylor (RB) If Jonathan Taylor was in NFL Street, he’d be pushing for the highest Speed rating among running backs along with top Agility, Run Power, and Carrying. His size would give him advantage on defense over other top running backs that just missed…
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Josh Allen Revealed As ‘Madden NFL 24’ Cover Athlete

Josh Allen Revealed As ‘Madden NFL 24’ Cover Athlete

After a few days of rumors, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has officially been revealed as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 24—fulfilling a childhood dream of the superstar quarterback:   [embed]https://twitter.com/JoshAllenQB/status/1666461640663990272?cxt=HHwWgIC8uY2Cu6AuAAAA[/embed]   Of course, the legendary John Madden was on the cover of Madden NFL 23 following his death, and Madden NFL 22 featured both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes—so Allen will be the first individual player on the cover since Lamar Jackson on Madden NFL 21.   In addition to a trailer that was released, the Gridiron Notes blog provides a quick glimpse at some changes for this year’s edition of the game (with other Gridiron Notes getting more detailed in the coming weeks).   Most notably, gameplay will have “AI Enhancements” that creates “smoother and more realistic player action,” and Franchise Mode will have…
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Top Ten Tuesday: NFL Street Players

Top Ten Tuesday: NFL Street Players

Released in January 2004, NFL Street was the type of groundbreaking sports video game you don’t typically see in today’s world of pay-to-win schemes (EA makes billions of dollars on Ultimate Team, so there isn’t a ton of incentive to innovate in sports). But it’s fun to look back at a classic game. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday picks the best players in the original NFL Street. Please note that Legends are not included in the top ten.   10. Ray Lewis (LB) The trio of top linebackers in the game included Brian Urlacher, who also could have been included in the top ten. For pure tackling and big hits, Lewis and his maxed-out Tackling attribute made him a force in the middle of defenses. Additionally, the Hall of Famer was someone you could…
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