If you were to start EA Sports’ "College Football 25" and select the College Football 25 Coins South Carolina football team, you would find that Senior Juju McDowell, the top returner at running back, is currently missing. McDowell explained at South Carolina’s media day that he had trouble accessing his account to sign up, which delayed his inclusion in the game. However, he expects to be added soon once EA Sports verifies his identity with South Carolina.

EA Sports invited athletes with official university email addresses to opt into the game in February, asking them to set up profiles and review the offer before accepting. Athletes who opted in by April were included at launch on July 19. Over 14,000 players signed up, receiving $600 and a copy of the game valued at $70. McDowell confirmed his reward would be on the way soon.

Despite his current absence from the game, McDowell has been playing "College Football 25" with his real-life teammates, choosing to explore other college football programs. When the Gamecock Club held an EA Sports "College Football 25" tournament, freshman offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins emerged as the champion.

McDowell is one of two scholarship returners at running back for South Carolina, joined by sophomore Djay Braswell, freshman Matthew Fuller, and transfer running backs Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, Oscar Adaway III, and Jawarn Howell. Despite the competition for playing time, McDowell described their group as having a strong brotherhood.

EA Sports "College Football 25" has seen remarkable success since its release, with five million unique players in its first week and $500 million in sales. The game also saw over 500,000 players using the EA Play trial. This revival marks the first time college athletes are being compensated for their name, image, and likeness in the game, a significant shift from the original franchise, which ran from 1998 until 2013.

EA Sports CEO Andrew Wilson praised the game’s record-breaking launch and highlighted EA’s focus on delivering connected experiences for players. This release is notable as it follows a long hiatus due to legal challenges regarding the use of athletes' likenesses, most notably the lawsuit led by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon.

The reintroduction of the game includes more than 14,000 opted-in players, surpassing EA’s goal of 85 players per roster. The game is designed to allow roster updates throughout the season, ensuring that new and existing players are accurately represented.

Additionally, Houston Christian University has appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit regarding the House v. NCAA antitrust case. This follows a historic settlement agreement that could lead to significant changes in the financial model of college sports, allowing schools to share a portion of revenues with athletes.
If you fire up EA Sports’ "College Football 25" and navigate to the South Carolina football team, you might notice the absence of Senior Juju McDowell, the team's top running back. McDowell, who encountered issues with his account access, is expected to be added to the game shortly. EA Sports had invited athletes to opt into the game back in February, and with over 14,000 players signing up, McDowell's inclusion is anticipated once EA verifies his identity with South Carolina.

In the meantime, McDowell has been exploring other college football programs in the game, showcasing his competitive spirit. He was notably absent from the Gamecock Club's recent "College Football 25" tournament, where freshman offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins emerged as the CUT 25 Coins champion.