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Predicting The Cover Athletes For The NCAA Football Game That Will Reportedly Have All Different Positions And One From Each Power Conference

So obviously the return of the College Football game is the talk of the sports video game world these days, and the news released today that there will be multiple covers is exciting. I think it'll be cool for a few different fan bases to be able to snag the copy they want, instead of everyone having to get the same. However I think these stipulations mentioned in the tweet make it pretty difficult to piece the puzzle together of who it will be. Here's what we know:

- Current players (not coaches, not former players)

- Different positions (meaning you can't do both Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers)

- Each from a different Power Conference 

Like, if you just said pick the four best options across the country, you might get 3 QBs and 3 players from the SEC. But you can only have one of each. So here's my predictions (and this was much harder than I thought it'd be)

Big 12: Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)

Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images. Getty Images.

If this is NOT Shedeur, the world of possibilities completely opens up. Because Travis Hunter is another huge name, plus there's a reigning Doak Walker winner in the Big 12, and there's also a shit ton of notable QBs in the country compared to other positions.  But it HAS to be Shedeur, right? If it's not, my entire mock is ruined. I'm throwing Ewers, Jalen Milroe, and Dillion Gabriel off the board just to make this pick. And while it ruins the rest of the mock, I feel very confident in this one.

Big Ten: Will Johnson (Michigan - Cornerback)

John Mersits. Shutterstock Images.

Fuck it. I'll take off the Scarlet colored glasses for a second. They're the defending National Champs, and for that reason, they deserve to have someone on the video game more than Emeka Ebuka, JTT, Caleb Downs, or any other Buckeyes. Plus, he's a projected Top 5 pick in next year's draft. He deserves it, but I will NOT be buying this version. And no one outside of Michigan will either.
SEC:  Luther Burden III (Mizzou - Wide Reciever)

Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.

The best returning WR in the country. A potential Top 3 pick in next year's draft. And an absolute menace with the ball in his hands. If we're doing the Puzzle Piece fitting and cannot do another QB, I think Luther Burden III is your pick from the SEC. But again, if we went Travis Hunter from Colorado in the Big 12, this opens the SEC back up to people like Jalen Milroe and even, I guess, Carson Beck.

ACC: Patrick Payton (Florida State - EDGE)

Isaiah Vazquez. Getty Images.

This is where I hate my mock. I have to go back and do Travis Hunter for the Pac 12 so I can at least pick a QB here, don't I? Or should I go with incoming ACC member and Cal running back Jadyn Ott? No, that's dumb too. But there's simply no way College Football 2025 is going to have Patrick Payton on it. I get that he's one of the best returning Edge rushers in all of college football, but he's still not a Top 10 name. Am I reading that initial tweet incorrectly? It says "different positions". Why would they care about having two quarterbacks? Or four?


Alright, there's our top 4 power conferences. After completing that exercise, I think the rules must've been lost in translation somewhere. There's no possible explanation as to how someone trying to make money wouldn't put Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Quinn Ewers on the game cover and call it a day. Or the ACC version is going to sell 5 copies….