After an 11-year wait that felt like forever to die-hard fans, EA Sports College Football 25 was released July 19. Nearly 5 million fans played the game during the release weekend. But, when it comes to the game’s halftime recap, a familiar voice from the Ithaca College community is heard: Kevin Connors ’97.
In CFB25, fans can play as their favorite Division I college football teams or even create a unique player and take them on a collegiate career journey. When it gets to halftime of the game, Connors appears on–screen recapping the events of the first half just like he would on ESPN’s college football coverage.
“I played the college football game more than any other game when it was out,” Connors said. “When they asked me to be a part of it, I jumped at the opportunity.”
Connors grew up in Long Island, New York. From there, he came to the college where over his four years on the South Hill, Connors broadcasted Bomber sports on WICB and hosted shows on ICTV while also playing varsity basketball.
While Connors was at the college, Christopher Wheatley was the manager of Radio Operations. Wheatley said he never worried about Connors being successful and that he was always at the top of his game.
“One thing I remember about him is, I didn’t teach this kid a thing,” Wheatley said. “He came in as a pro from the first day. He just got it.”
While at the college, Connors said he had a peer group that took their broadcasting very seriously. He said he learned that he always had to be on top of his game and prepare at a high–level.
“Good enough is not good enough,” Connors said. “That’s something that I learned at Ithaca. It’s credit to the people at Ithaca and the people who were my peers when I was a student there.”
After graduating in 1997, Connors was the sports director at WCBS-TV in New York. He was hired by ESPN in 2008 and has been there ever since. In Jan. 2019, Connors was hired as a voiceover artist with video game company Electronic Arts (EA).
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Connors flew down once a month to the EA Sports headquarters in Orlando, Florida. Connors would record just a few days during his trip. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the studio where Connors recorded was not even a real studio. Connors said EA Sports sent him recording equipment, so instead of flying to Orlando, he could just record in his basement.
“A lot of preparation went into it, a lot of writing, a lot of thinking,” Connors said. “How would I actually say it when I was in the studio doing real halftimes? I just kind of approached it from an energy standpoint. I just pretended like I’m doing my day job at ESPN.”
When recording for the video game’s halftime show, Connors said he had to prepare for every possible situation that could come up. Everything had to be covered from a team rushing every single play of the game to a 200-0 blowout.
“It was like, why do we have to do this?” Connors said. “No one’s going to run the ball every single play … except there might be someone that runs the ball every single play and they call them easter eggs.”
Attention to detail is a big reason behind the game’s success, impressing audiences and drawing over five million plays at launch. The creators covered every angle, from authentic stadiums to realistic rosters and top broadcasters like Connors, who brings college football to life each week.
“Those people do an absolutely amazing job of thinking out every scenario, making everything as authentic as possible.” Connors said.
Connors is a versatile figure in the sports media industry. He is a major figure at ESPN, hosting the flagship show “SportsCenter” and “Baseball Tonight”. During halftime of many college football and basketball games on the ESPN family networks, Connors will be at the desk recapping the happenings of the game and sharing what is going on around the sports landscape.
“[EA Sports] wanted to speak to the college football fan,” Connors said. “[I said] it in the voice that you would say it in when you’re speaking to a college football TV viewing audience. And again, that’s just why the game is so authentic, because we’re not dumbing anything down.”
Devon Jarvis, sophomore broadcaster for ICTV, WICB Radio and VIC Radio at the college, said he looks up to Connors because of his success and dedication.
“You’re the underdog, and Ithaca has that mentality to it,” Jarvis said. “When you see somebody from Ithaca make it big, it gives you hope.”
After playing the game for years, Connors made it into the game, which he said was an unexpected path.
“It’s a really mind–blowing thing,” Connors said. “[It’s] something that I’m very fortunate [and] blessed to be associated with.”
