Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and other Big 12 players found themselves in hot water with college football fans after a viral video showed them struggling to identify legendary NCAA Football video game cover athletes. The clip sparked heated debates about respecting the sport’s history and understanding the legends who came before.
Why Couldn’t Big 12 Players Name These NCAA Cover Legends?
The viral video revealed a surprising knowledge gap when Big 12 football players attempted to name previous NCAA Football video game cover stars. Several current players, including Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels and Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson, struggled to recognize college football legends who graced the covers of the popular video game series.
Big 12 players trying name NCAA Cover athletes 😭🔥 @KentSports pic.twitter.com/G6clKeBliH
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) July 16, 2025
The players were shown images of stars such as Chris Weinke, Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald, and Desmond Howard. The confusion was evident as they either guessed incorrectly or admitted they didn’t know who the player was.
“I wasn’t born in 01, bro. I’m good. 2001, I wasn’t born yet,” one player said when shown a cover from the early 2000s. This response highlighted the generational divide between current players and the legends who defined college football in previous decades.
How Did College Football Fans React to the Players’ Performance?
College football fans didn’t hold back their criticism of the players’ performance. The reactions ranged from disappointment to outright frustration with what many saw as a lack of respect for the sport’s history.
“These young competitors not knowing the legends who built the game they’re playing shows why respecting those who came before you matters in developing championship character,” wrote one frustrated fan, expressing disappointment at the generational disconnect.
These young competitors not knowing the legends who built the game they’re playing shows why respecting those who came before you matters in developing championship character.
— CoachJ (@CoachJClev) July 17, 2025
Another user captured the situation by stating, “Big 12 guys trying to name NCAA Football cover stars shows exactly how fast time moves. When your QB coach’s brother was on NCAA 04 and you didn’t even know, that’s peak generational gap. Only legends like Tebow and Bush getting universal recognition.”
The reactions also included humor alongside the harsh criticism. “They were naming everyone but the actual pick, pure chaos and comedy,” one fan tweeted, capturing the almost comical nature of the players’ incorrect guesses.
They were naming everyone but the actual pick, pure chaos and comedy 🔥😭🎮
— City (@CityMetaX) July 16, 2025
Some fans blamed modern distractions for the knowledge gap: “They watch TikTok not football,” while others simply called the display “embarrassing.”
This generational divide highlights a broader conversation about how today’s college athletes connect with the sport’s history and whether knowledge of past legends remains relevant in the modern game. The viral moment reminds us that while the game evolves, the legends who shaped college football continue to spark passionate debates among fans.
