I’m beginning to worry that College Football 25 may destroy lives, jobs, and families

The decade-long wait for a new college football video game is nearly over. In less than two weeks, EA Sports will finally release College Football 25 to a loyal fan base of video gamers starved for the first update to the franchise since 2013. It’s a day many never dreamed possible until NIL entered the sport, providing an opportunity to relaunch the game with actual student-athletes. The deluxe version is set to release on July 16; the regular version will be available on July 19.

In anticipation, EA spent the last several weeks teasing us with trailers, first looks, and a dynasty deep-dive on Tuesday. The deep dive provided the first look at Kentucky Football in the game. Though brief, we saw a glimpse of Kroger Field and the Wildcats’ team ranking.

Tuesday’s dynasty deep-dive also raised one concern:

Is this going to be a full-time job?

As I watched Kirk Herbstriet narrate all of the new features in dynasty mode, my excitement for the game turned into realizing that this will be a lot of work. Kirk mentioned assignments like recruiting high school players, keeping players, recruiting the portal, keeping assistant coaches, hiring new assistant coaches, and maintaining a coach archetype, whatever that means, to run this dynasty. That seems like a lot to do beyond playing the actual football game, but it’s the commitment many of us will eagerly make later this month.

Some will stay up late on weeknights to maintain fake relationships with fake recruits with fake names for their fake football team. Others might get up an hour earlier to play a big rivalry game before work. Then, a third group, including me, probably won’t sleep at all.

That raises another concern:

How will it affect our families?

It’s important to leave work at the door when you get home. Don’t take your 9 to 5 stresses to the dinner table to the people who aren’t involved. Family time is family time. That said, how can we keep our cool at Sunday breakfast if our star linebacker is eyeing the transfer portal on a TV in the other room? Can I go on long neighborhood walks with my wife if I am two games from taking Kentucky to the SEC Championship? I don’t know. I’ve never been confronted with that decision before. That’s why I am concerned about this upcoming work/life/College Football 25 balance ahead.

One more worry:

Will my wife even like the person I become?

I stopped playing video games many years ago, right around the time we last had a college football video game. I didn’t know my wife then. We hadn’t yet met. So, she has never known me to play video games. She doesn’t even know that part of my past.

But that person is on his way over to our house. He’ll be here on July 16, probably disappearing into a dark room for several hours at a time, mainly during the hours he should be sleeping. How will she react when that me takes over for the me she married, the only me she knows? Will she support my fake run at a fake College Football Playoff? Or will she think I am too old for all-nighters with a PlayStation? What if I start looking like Tom Hanks in Castaway? Will I even remember to eat?

Again, these are concerns I didn’t have until recently, but I’m now aware of what is ahead as more College Football 25 information is released. It is starting to feel like I paid EA Sports $100 to work a virtual full-time job that will be a detriment to other aspects of my life.

And I can’t wait to get started. On July 16, the college football world will be turned upside down by the start of a new dynasty. All other responsibilities are on the back burner.