CFB Notebook: In-State Talent in the Big 12, College Football ’25 In Game Prep

Camps are about to get going for the college football world and it’s time to clean out some final storylines in the notebook as we turn the page to the 2024 season. 

‘Crootin’ Arizona

With Arizona and Arizona State’s entrance into the Big 12, that opens up new recruiting avenues to a new geographic footprint. But that’s a two-way street. Teams can also put a new emphasis on Arizona now that they’ll regularly be traveling there.

Recruiting Arizona for some programs is not new. BYU constantly plucks players from the state and has 12 players on the roster from Arizona. Iowa State won a Fiesta Bowl thanks to the play of Brock Purdy and Joey Ramos years ago, and continues to be an early offer for top players in the state. 

Kansas added four from Arizona in last year’s class including DJ Warner – the Jayhawks’ highest-rated commit ever – and has verbal commits from Anderson Kopp and Garrett Martin in the 2025 class. 

Looks like that trend won’t change for the Jayhawks anytime soon.

 

Horned Frogs get an Arizona standout

TCU is looking to reload this year. After going to the National Championship game in 2022, the Horned Frogs went 5-7 last year with multiple close losses. Part of that revamp was bringing in Cade Bennett, who has played at Oklahoma State and San Diego State in college. The Notre Dame Prep star was one of the best Arizona offensive lineman to come through the state in recent years. 

 

College Football ’25 is here!

The college football world went on hold for a few weeks when EA Sports brought back the franchise: College Football ‘25. I’ve happily been a member of the Playstation 4 family, but this is the ONLY game that would make me pony up for a PlayStation 5. (I’m still waiting on that expense check re: accounting)

It was a mainstay growing up. Many a college paper were procrastinated on because of the 2014 edition of this franchise. It’s a new era with this game, and a new era now that players can have officially be a part of the franchise as well. 

It’s been fun playing with some of the top former Arizona prep stars. My Road to Glory player was a quarterback at Memphis. Chet Ubetcha Jr. had a solid year, but the Heisman winner? Duce Robinson. 

I was able air it out with Mikey Keene, Tyler Shough and Nicco Marchiol. 

Ben Morrison – the highest rated Arizona player in the game – is a ballhawk at Notre Dame. 

Gunner Maldonado and Genesis Smith are flying around the Arizona secondary as well. 

And here’s a piece of advice if you’re still looking for a fun team to play with:

There’s also a large cross-section of players (myself included) who like looking for the non-Power 4 option to play with in a dynasty mode. You can help take one of these teams on a path that is tough to navigate from a non-power conference and take down some of the blue-blood programs along the way.

If you’re an Arizona high school football fan, the New Mexico Lobos should be that option. 

The game roster has starting quarterback Devon Dampier (Saguaro), who is a fun dual-threat to work with. Running back Eli Sanders (Chandler) and athlete Javen Jacobs (Saguaro) are playmakers that can get into the open field. I reworked the depth chart a bit to get Sanders into the RB1 slot and Jacobs at slot receiver, a position he knows well. Shawn Miller, who started his high school career at Saguaro, is also a fun deep threat. 

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It’s like it’s the 2021 Open Division title run at @saguarofootball…but now they’re Lobos.@Devonddampier ➡️ @_JavenJacobs for six. #NCAAFootball25 pic.twitter.com/G0N9Ji7tOv

— Jordan Hamm (@JordyHamm) July 22, 2024

Williams Field safety Noa Pola-Gates and offensive lineman Sa’Kylee Woodard are also on the roster but not featured in the game. 

Time for the Lobos to make some noise!

Adding Reps

Speaking of College Football ‘25…Ohio State linebacker Jack Sawyer said at Big Ten media days that head coach Ryan Day told Buckeye players to play the game to familiarize themselves with opponents rosters. 

I asked Kenny Dillingham if there are tangible advantages his team can use by playing the game.

He said while using the video game as a game prep would not prove beneficial for college players, there could be a “pictionary” application that provides reps.

 

Buckle up, friends. College football is here.