While the teaser lacked explicit details, the timing and tone strongly suggest that EA Sports is preparing to revive its dormant NCAA Basketball series, which hasn’t seen a release since NCAA Basketball 10 hit shelves in 2009. The hashtag “#CBB” and the phrase “Bring the Madness” clearly nod to March Madness, the centerpiece of college basketball and a cultural phenomenon fans have been desperate to relive digitally for over a decade.

This teaser comes as EA prepares to launch its College Football 25 title later this summer, marking a full return to collegiate sports gaming after years of legal battles surrounding player likeness rights. With NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) agreements now mainstream, it’s increasingly feasible for EA to feature real college athletes in future basketball titles as well.

Though no release window has been announced, fan excitement is already surging. If this teaser is indeed confirmation of a new college basketball game, it would be the first of its kind in 16 years—and potentially the most anticipated sports gaming revival in recent memory.

For now, players and fans alike will have to wait for more concrete details. But one thing is clear: EA Sports is gearing up to put college basketball back in the game.

• Travis Hunter: Big 12
• Quinn Ewers: SEC
• Donovan Edwards: Big Ten

The selection of cover athletes reflects the diverse talent and strong brand presence across college football. Here’s a closer look at each cover athlete:

Travis Hunter: Hunter’s presence on the cover highlights his status as a rare two-way player and a standout talent in the game. As the only player on the cover to have earned All-American honors, Hunter brings a unique blend of skill and marketability to the forefront.

Quinn Ewers: Ewers represents the resurgence of Texas football, a storied program with a passionate fan base. His prominence as a quarterback and the face of Texas football’s resurgence makes him a fitting choice for the SEC cover, symbolizing the return of a powerhouse program.

Donovan Edwards: Edwards emerges as the face of the Big Ten cover, representing the championship-winning team from the previous season. As one of the most recognizable offensive players on the championship-winning team, Edwards embodies the strength and success of his team in the competitive Big Ten conference.

The selection of these cover athletes underscores the depth of talent and the rich narratives present in college football. With each player bringing their own unique story and skill set to the forefront, the College Football 25 Standard Edition promises to celebrate the diversity and excitement of the collegiate gridiron.

A federal judge approved a $60 million settlement for college athletes in a class-action lawsuit filed against the NCAA and video-game maker Electronics Arts.

Steve Berman, a Seattle-based attorney for the plaintiffs confirmed Friday that U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken had approved the settlement during a hearing Thursday. Wilken also ruled against the NCAA in the O’Bannon case, which challenges the NCAA’s use of the names, images and likenesses of college athletes. That ruling is being appealed by the NCAA.

The plaintiffs in the case against the NCAA and EA claimed they illegally used college football and basketball players’ names and likenesses in video games for years. Players who have appeared in EA’s NCAA football and basketball games have until July 31 to make a claim as part of the settlement.

“This landmark decision marks the first time student-athletes will be paid for the likeness or image, and stands as a huge victory in the ongoing fight for student-athletes’ rights,” Berman said in statement.

NCAA series video games were discontinued in 2013 because of pending legal cases against the NCAA regarding the use of athletes’ names,

(Click here to file a claim.)

The NCAA titles were some of the best work EA sports put out. I have many fond memories recruiting and building powerhouses via the dynasty mode. Hands down the best year for EA’s NCAA Football series was 06 in which Reggie Bush appeared on the cover.

The bigger travesty is that we’ll never get a proper 2k/Take Two College Hoops 2k16. With the technology they have now, a college basketball game released today would compete for all-time greatness.

But all good things must come to an end.

Or as the great Jay-Z once said, “F**** the NCAA n****, let a young n**** get paid, n****!”

How would things look if NCAA Football 16 were released as scheduled? Well, check out the artwork above. The title likely would have featured Marcus Mariota as the cover athlete with all of the game modes you’ve come to enjoy such as Road to Glory, etc.

Thankfully there are modders out there on Operation Sports and other sites who upload up-to-date rosters. Will there ever be another official EA Sports release? Who knows….

H/T LostLettermen

They are deleting Aaron Hernandez from Madden 25.

He will not appear in the game as a free agent or as a member of the Patriots. If you want the tight end from Flordia, you’re going to have to hit that create-a-player mode!

“We made a decision to remove Aaron Hernandez from Madden NFL 25 and NCAA Football 14. Because NCAA Football 14 was finalized prior to our decision, Hernandez’ image still appears in the Nike Skills Trainer,” an EA Sports spokesperson told CBSSports.com. “The image of Hernandez will be removed via a Title Update in the near future.”

In the business, we call this the Chris Benoit treatment.

While the NCAA franchise is always getting better and better, they have given the cover to a deserving athlete every year. Last year it was Robert Griffin III of Baylor. This year is will be Denard Robinson of Michigan.

Congrats to Denard and all of the fans who voted him in. Hopefully in NCAA 2014 we get the bowl subdivision teams, a feature that’s been missing since the Playstation 2 days.

My only question is Why does RGIII look so short?

Cover Below: