This is a production of the ThreeTechPod (linktree: https://linktr.ee/threetechpod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=b3f40ca7-28e6-47bc-90fa-901c565d006d. Check out the corresponding video on YouTube (https://youtu.be/2VCYgJp8nL0?si=cz-ZeqovC8GFwxLc)
Background: The top 10 teams are our favorite choices to rebuild on EACFB25 when the game is released in July. These aren’t necessarily the 10 worst teams, but rather teams we picked for their recent records, location, jerseys, stadium, and conference. They’re in no particular order. We’re so pumped to dive into dynasty mode and rebuild our programs. Let us know which ones you are choosing!
10. Georgia Southern Eagles
Conference: Sun Belt
2023 Record: 6-7, finished on a 5 game losing streak
Reasons to rebuild: Ga Southern is a fun program with a fun history of success at the lower levels. Before Clay Helton came in, Ga Southern was running the triple option. With a classic uniform set and the tradition of a fun offense, you can either lean into the new spread scheme or return to 3 yards and a cloud of dust. The Sun Belt will be one of the most popular conferences to start in, of course, but Ga Southern also has to compete with the titans of college football for recruits. The momentum may be tough to build, but once you do, the reward of taking recruits from UGA, Alabama, and Florida will be incredible.
9. East Carolina Pirates
Conference: American
2023 Record: 2-10, barely scored 200 total points last season.
Reasons to rebuild: East Carolina sneakily has one of my favorite brands in all of college football. From their “No Quarter” motto to the logo and Pirate skull at midfield, it’s easy to want to be a Pirate. Add in the fact that they are in a competitive conference, have incredible uniforms, and a winning tradition that can be yours to create and they are truly a perfect team to start with in the video game. They were a popular choice on Revamped with the new uniforms, and they will be once again in EA CFB 25.
8. Temple Owls
Conference: American
2023 Record: 3-9
Reasons to rebuild: Temple is a fascinating program located in the heart of Philadelphia. HC Stan Drayton has been working to rebuild the program, but the results haven’t quite surfaced yet. Their last winning season was 8-5 in 2019. It felt like maybe they were getting something going last season with EJ Warner at QB, but he transferred out. Temple provides a program in rich recruiting country that needs an identity. Playing in the American gives you a really fun schedule to start with before attempting to move up after achieving success. Just in 2024, you’ll play Coastal, UConn, East Carolina, Tulane, UTSA, and UNT. Temple’s uniforms are very underrated and you will have one of the more unique home atmospheres playing in Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Eagles.
7. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Conference: CUSA
2023 Record: 3-9, lost their last six straight
Reasons to rebuild: Sonny Cumbie has been trying to make La Tech Football fun again. They’ve had fun playmakers, but the defense and lack of consistent offense has held them back. Their struggles on the road have made it impossible to gather momentum throughout a season. But a 9-3 season in 2019 isn’t so far back that the template for winning in Ruston can’t be found again. An air raid offense and fast defense that can create turnovers could be your template to building a winner once again at La Tech. Or, perhaps you want to try and win in the trenches with a Bulldog mentality! The options are wide open with the Bulldogs as your team. Establishing yourself as a power in CUSA before looking to move up in the world might not take that much time, but make sure you’re ready to compete with bigger schools before making that jump. EA has said that higher rated recruits will feel different than 2 or 3 star players. There is plenty of talent in the southeast to recruit, so finding those gems in the rough is high priority. The state of Louisiana loves their teams, so a passionate fanbase is sure to support you once you start winning.
6. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Conference: Sun Belt
2023 Record: 3-9
Reasons to rebuild: Time to take Southern Miss back “To The Top”! The Golden Eagles were one of the most fun teams to watch during bowl season when I was growing up. They’ve got great school colors, a fantastic looking stadium, and are perfectly situated in prime college football territory for a great rebuild. I really cannot wait to see some of the gameday atmospheres at schools like Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles have a 7-6 campaign in 2022, so this isn’t a program in search of their first winning record in a decade. Still, Southern Miss has struggled to do anything more than run into a 7 win season every once in a while. You’ll be replacing legendary RB Frank Gore Jr and competing in a stacked Sun Belt conference. You’ll have the chance to decide if you want to build on the ground or find talented WRs to add some speed on the outside. With teams like Texas State, James Madison, and Jacksonville State all experiencing recent winning results, teams like Southern Miss have to catch up fast.
5. UConn Huskies
Conference: Independent (for now)
2023 Record: 3-9, injuries and a real lack of offense held them back from a much higher ceiling in 2023.
Reasons to rebuild: As our good friend Bobby Wilson of the T’N’T College Football Podcast wrote, UConn is a well known brand that has experienced football success in the near past. When the Big East was alive and well, the Huskies football program thrived. It routinely produces NFL Draft talent, and the recruiting grounds in the northeast have become a treasure trove. The Huskies have some excellent jerseys and are an easy sell to any conference looking to expand. UConn was reportedly on the doorstep of Big 12 membership before the Pac 12 fell apart, so you’ve got a great many options when it comes to joining a conference, if you choose to leave the freedom of independence! UConn appears to be a team that you could build into a playoff threat fairly quickly depending on how you play your cards. But that’s the beauty of Dynasty Mode. Not every program has to be a one star rebuild. You get to create your own storylines and forge your path to the playoff in whichever route you want!
4. Akron Zips
Conference: MAC
2023 Record: 2-10
Reasons to rebuild: Akron is a program that I just haven’t been able to figure out why they haven’t been better. Ohio is a great state to recruit, and even though they battle B1G programs and regional rivals in the MAC, Akron has really struggled to even win multiple games in recent years. This is where you can step in. Akron has one of the most unique mascots in college athletics, they have fantastic uniforms, and even some great traditions like the turnover tire. If you’ve played previous dynasties in the old games, you know how fun it is to rebuild a MAC school. Now, you’ll get a chance to forge a conference champion. The Zips only have one in team history, winning the 2005 conference championship with a 7-6 record.They’ve actually only been to three bowl games in their history as well, so the path to success will be challenging, but oh so rewarding. Playing in the MAC East appears to present an easier path to success than the West does, but Miami (OH) and Ohio stand in your way. Even Bowling Green has been trending in the right direction.
3. ULM Warhawks
Conference: Sun Belt
2023 Record: 2-10, went 0-8 in conference last season.
Reasons to rebuild: The Warhawks are definitely going to be one of the most popular picks in Dynasty Mode simply because of General Booty, a transfer QB from Oklahoma (lol). Beyond that, ULM completed a full rebrand a few years ago that has given them a fantastic look on the field. Inspired by a WWII fighter plane, they have worn alternates that are some of the slickest in the sport. I’m not sure if they will be in the game, but we can certainly hope! ULM enters a new era after parting ways from Twitter’s favorite coach, Terry Bowden. Now, the Warhawks will chase their first conference championship at the FBS level in a loaded Sun Belt conference. With main rivals Louisiana and Louisiana Tech in stronger positions to build towards an at-large bid, there is a lot of work to do in Monroe. With truly a wide open array of options to take the team and their playbooks, you can be the coach to deliver ULM their first ever bowl win. The recruiting territory is there, but developing enough of a program to take advantage of those recruits will be key. ULM may be a program where you utilize the transfer portal heavily, but make sure not to pull a Jake Spavital and rely only on second chance players. For those willing to put in the work, I think ULM could be one of the most satisfying rebuilds of the entire game.
2. North Texas Mean Green
Conference: American
2023 Record: 5-7, the Mean Green are one of the G5 teams poised for a real breakout.
Reasons to rebuild: The UNT Mean Green really has everything you are looking for in a program to take the next step with. Their brand is unique, their stadium looks incredible, the uniform combinations are elite, and oh yeah, you are in the middle of one of the best recruiting hotbeds in the entire country! Thanks to our friends over at Revamped, I rebuilt North Texas into a juggernaut that covered a decade. It was some of the most enjoyable time I spent on NCAA14 in the 10 years that I played it. For those choosing the Mean Green, you will have a massive incoming freshman class to develop, an exciting air raid offense to play with, and a great conference rival in UTSA to compete directly against. Now, that’s not to say that the road will be easy. Once you’ve bested your rivals in the American, you can either turn the conference into an annual contender or look to join the Big 12. North Texas should have access to enough 3-4 stars to threaten the bigger programs after a year or two, but when will you take the jump to start beating the likes of Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma? That’s the challenge!
1. Buffalo Bulls
Conference: MAC
2023 Record: 3-9, simply could not win at home last season.
Reasons to rebuild: Oh sweet Buffalo. Personally, I’ve always found myself rooting for the Bulls in MACtion play. I love their school colors and they give off a very gritty vibe. Unfortunately, their football team has fallen into a slump. Back in the 70s, the school suspended football entirely, only for it to return as a D3 program. They made the jump to D2 in the early 90s, before being fully reinstated at the D1 level in 1999. But the program took its big step when Lance Leipold came to town in 2015. The first few years were slow, but Leipold got the Bulls to three straight bowl games starting in 2018. They went 10-2 in the regular season, 8-5 in 2019, and 6-0 in the pandemic shortened season. The Bulls looked like they were finally building something as the athletic department funded facility upgrades. But since Leipold left, it’s been a huge letdown. The Bulls did win a bowl game and finished with a 7-6 record in 2022, but they won only 3 games a season ago despite recruiting success. Buffalo feels like a program that should be competing in the MAC East with regularity. A chance to claim the throne in the Northeast awaits the player who takes on the Bulls. You’ll have the chance to develop the next Khalil Mack or groom the next backfield weapon like Jarrett Patterson.
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