DALLAS — Thanks to new NIL rules, EA Sports brought back its beloved college football video game series, and for the first time, it uses players' actual names, images and likenesses.
"I haven't played a [video] game since high school," Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson said. "But right when the game dropped, I went to Best Buy, bought a PS5 and got the game."
Jackson is the highest-rated Razorback in the game and the only Arkansas player in the top 100.
"Overall, I'm a 91, but my speed is like a 76, so I don't like that at all," Jackson said. "You can't worry about that stuff."
The game launched on July 15 for early access users and officially hit store shelves for everyone on July 19. Jackson said the team can't get enough of it.
"We'll play in the players lounge and talk about it at practice," Jackson said. "Then go home and play against each other."
Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong even streams his gameplay sessions on Twitch, where he celebrates his own virtual touchdowns with those tuning in.
“I’m a cheat code on the game," Armstrong said. "Just throw it up, and I'll catch it."
Jackson has the blueprint for fans looking to play as the Razorbacks.
“Put Sategna on the slant route, Luke Hasz on the fade," Jackson said. "Throw it to Luke; he could be in triple coverage. He’s going to catch it.”
And the Hogs certainly hope this is a situation they can replicate in real life.
“The whole team is like a cheat code,” Armstrong said.