Crimson Tide, Buckeyes Stars Opt Into EA Sports College Football 2025

Alabama's Malachi Moore, Ohio State's Denzel Burke were two of the first players to announce they would be in the game

With EA Sports College Football 2025 now officially set to drop this summer, the video game behemoth is preparing to accept opt-ins from players that want to be in the game.

All 134 FBS teams will be in the game, and that means that all FBS players have the chance to opt-in to be in the game. In return those players will get standard compensation of $600 and a copy of the game – an estimated $70 value.

How many players opt-in will be a mystery. But two major players revealed on Thursday that they were one of the first players to agree to opt in, the first day players were allowed.

Players are announcing that they have opted in EA College Football 25 through a Paid Partnership on IG 🔥

The 1st Student-Athletes to post:

- 🐘 Alabama DB Malachi Moore

- 🌰 Ohio State CB Denzel Burke

Expecting more to do the same soon ⏳#CFB25 #EAPartner #EAAthlete pic.twitter.com/O2EQP5eUSm

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 22, 2024

On3.com reported that two players announced they had opted in through a paid partnership with EA Sports in Instagram — Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore and Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke.

Moore is set to return for his fifth season of college football in 2024, but he’ll play under a new head coach. Nick Saban retired after the season and was replaced by Washington boss Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide is coming off a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Im in the game #CFB25 @EASPORTSCollege #EAAthlete pic.twitter.com/Z3JyQf35IN

— Denzel Burke (@DenzelBurke10) February 22, 2024

Moore has been a productive player for the Tide each of his four previous seasons. He is coming off a 2023 in which he was selected as a permanent captain, made 52 tackles, including five for loss, and broke up five passes. He also had one interception.

Burke is coming off his third season of college football, one in which he 24 tackles, three tackles for loss and one interception. He was named First-Team All-Big Ten, two seasons after a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection. He helped Ohio State to an 11-2 record in 2023. The Buckeyes should be Big Ten and College Football Playoff contenders again in 2024.

By Friday morning, less than 12 hours after players were allowed to opt in, EA Sports VP of Global Marketing and Communcations John Reesburg aid that more than 5,000 student-athletes had opted into the game. 

On3.com also reported other players that opted in, including Penn State running back Nick Singleton, Texas Tech running back Tajh Brooks, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, Missouri quarterback Brady Cook, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer and LSU quarterback Garret Nussmeier.