The skinny:
Sure, it's still July, but those of you who have a problem with getting a taste of college football before the Kickoff Classic can go straight to hell. The latest installment of NCAA Football has the standout controls, features and stellar graphics you'd expect. What sets 2005 apart are new wrinkles in the scheme, like the smart home-field advantage feature that gives you an edge when you deserve it. Suit up the Gators for a game on the Vols' home turf in Knoxville and you're going to run into some trouble: Roaring crowds prevent receivers from hearing audibles, rattle quarterbacks and make kickers puke all over their shoes. But taking USC for a little tune-up visit against Stanford will still end in the ritual slaughter of the Cardinal's "student-athletes."

If you liked this game, you'd like:
ESPN NFL 2K5, MLB SlugFest: Loaded, cutting the brake lines on motor homes sporting the wrong flag in the tailgating parking lot

Hours to complete:
An ultra in-depth Dynasty Mode and online capabilities will keep you playing until NCAA 2006, or at least until the new Madden comes out.

Tantalizing tidbits:
Kirk Herbstreit and Brad Nessler give the play-by-play, while Lee Corso reprises his role of resident barking lunatic. More importantly, Electronic Arts and Microsoft finally settled their financial differences, meaning all the new EA titles now support Xbox Live.

Buy, rent or run away screaming?
Even if another company were to come out with a college football game this year, NCAA would still take class honors.