Are EA Sports CFB Ratings Legitimate or Engagement Farming?

By Brett Daniels

EA Sports set the College Football community ablaze with the release of several sets of ratings for their new game which is scheduled to drop on July 19. As with any list, there were differing opinions on which teams were rated too high and which ones were rated too low. This list saw three teams that seemed to generate the most discussion and controversy: Tennessee , Missouri , and Colorado . Tennessee and Missouri were not rated in the top 25 of either offense or defense while Colorado, despite coming off of a 4-8 season is ranked in the top 10 on offense (8 ^th /89 Overall) and 20 ^th in defense (84 Overall) for a composite 87 Overall which is 16 ^th . This begs the question, did EA truly evaluate every team fairly or are they engagement farming with Colorado?

All statistics for this article are from CFB Stats and Pro Football Focus (PFF). According to the EA Sports website, PFF ratings were used to formulate these ratings.

The Case for Tennessee

Since Josh Heupel ’s arrival on Rocky Top in 2021, the Vols have had one of the most prolific offenses in College Football. In 2023, Tennessee ranked 16 ^th in total offense (448.1 yards/game, 6.48 yards/play) after ranking 1 ^st in 2022 (525 yards/game, 7.23 yards/play), and 9 ^th in 2021 (474 yards/game, 6.47 yards/play). Based on those stats alone there is no way that Tennessee won’t be a top-25 offense in 2024.

Defensively the Vols have not been as good ranking 33 ^rd in 2023 (335.2 yards/game, 4.97 yards/game), 92 ^nd in 2022 (405.3 yards/game/5.32 yards/play), and 99 ^th (421.7 yards/game, 5.43 yards/play). According to most services Tennessee has the top defensive player for the 2025 NFL draft in EDGE James Pierce, Jr . Based off these numbers, it is understandable that Tennessee is not rated inside the Top 25, although you could make the argument that the rate of improvement shown and recent recruiting classes it wouldn’t be a stretch see the Vols with a Top 25 defense in 2024.

Tennessee signed the 11th-best signing class in 2024 featuring 5-star EDGE Jordan Ross and two 4-star WR ( Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley ) along with 9 transfers.

The Case for Missouri

Missouri and Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz had a breakout season in 2023 after steady improvement over the previous two years. Offensively the Tigers ranked 28 ^th in 2023 (434.3 yards/game, 6.46 yards/play) after ranking 85 ^th (367.6 yards/game, 5.40 yards/play) and 61 ^st (413.7 yards/game, 5.86 yards/play) in 2022 & 2021 respectively. The Mizzou offense returns one of the best QB/WR tandems in the SEC in Brady Cook and preseason Biletnikoff award favorite Luther Burden III (#1 WR according to PFF). According to PFF’s preseason unit rankings, the Tigers have the 10 ^th best QB, 6 ^th WR, and 7 ^th Offensive Line.

Defensively, Missouri has been consistent, ranking 34 ^th the last two seasons 336.1 yards/game and 5.28 yards/play in 2023 and 340.8 yards/game, 5.28 yards/play in 2022. These seasons were huge improvements over the 106 ^th ranked defense in 2021 (434.7 yards/game, 6.38 yards/play).

Missouri signed the 19 ^th best recruiting class in 2024 featuring 5-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri and 4-star defensive lineman Jaylen Brown . The Tigers also brought in 15 transfers.

The Case for Colorado

Colorado and Coach Prime have become a lightning rod for College Football fans, everyone has an opinion. Some want to see them fail while others are convinced that the Buffs are going to be a contender in the 2024 season. Offensively, Colorado has been absolutely dreadful the two years prior to Sanders' arrival, finishing near the bottom in total offense ranking 129 ^th out of 131 in 2021 (257.6 yards/game, 4.37 yards/play) and 128 ^th in 2022 (281.3 yards/game, 4.52 yards/play). 2023 was a slight improvement with the Buffalos rising to 82 ^nd (363.6 yards/game, 5.24 yards/play) behind QB Shadeur Sanders and WR/CB Travis Hunter .

Defensively it was much the same story with Colorado ranking at or near the bottom in total defense in 2021 (98 ^th 420.8 yards/game, 6.06 yards/play) and 2022 (130 ^th 509.8 yards/game, 7.20 yards/play). The Buffalos were better statistically in 2023 (453. 3 yards/game, 6.27 yards/play) but still ranked 130 ^th overall.

According to PFF, Shadeur Sanders is the 2 ^nd best QB in college football and Travis Hunter ranks 3 ^rd at CB. Coach Prime brought in the 83 ^rd ranked recruiting class in 2024 featuring 5-star OT Jordan Seaton along with 42 transfers.

Conclusion

Based on the above information, Tennessee being left out of the Top 25 on offense was one of the more egregious omissions. Defensively, you could make an argument either way, but I would be surprised at the end of the 2024 season if Tennessee doesn’t rank at or near the Top 25 on defense.

Missouri is borderline in both offense and defense but has brought in enough talent to bridge the gap to the Top 25 in both. The Tigers will also likely be ranked in the Top 15 to start the 2024 season.

Colorado has absolutely no business near the top 25 in either offense or defense and the fact that this team has an overall rating of 87 (16 ^th overall) is laughable. I understand that EA is trying to generate buzz about their game and any publicity is good publicity but a game that is so anticipated already doesn’t need “hot takes" at the expense of the game’s credibility. Fans of this game pay for accuracy and realism and these rankings call both into question.