The virtual world is no exception: when it comes to grabbing national attention in college sports, Colorado football is always literally at the forefront.

The highly anticipated video game “EA Sports College Football 25” was released this week to millions of sports fans. And right on the cover? Buffs two-way player Travis Hunter. Colorado football, even after a 4-8 season in Coach Prime’s Year 1, remains one of the most popular teams in the sport.

“It’s a great feeling to see Trav on the cover,” Buffaloes wide receiver Jimmy Horn said. “It’s fun to see what’s happening now (at Colorado). It’s been 10 years since this game came out, and now I’m in the game, Trav’s in the game, everybody on the team is in the game.”

On Friday, 5430 Alliance, a collective of Colorado NIL, hosted a release party on campus to invite fans to play against their real athletes. About 40 Buffs players faced off against fans (many of them children) and signed autographs for the crowd.

For the first time, college athletes were paid to have their image and likeness recreated in an officially licensed video game. A lawsuit halted the annual NCAA-themed football series in 2013, forcing it to go on hiatus for more than a decade.

Its return has led to an extremely hyped release, with 2.2 million players logging into the game in its first 24 hours. Athletes were given $600 and a copy of the game if they signed up as playable characters.

“I’ve always dreamed of being in a video game,” Horn Jr. said. “It’s an opportunity that not many people get. It’s just a blessing to be a part of this.”

The national attention on CU football in the Deion Sanders era is nothing new, but it’s the latest example of Colorado capitalizing on the hype.

Kahlil Benson, a highly touted offensive lineman prospect out of Indiana, joined the Buffaloes’ roster via the transfer portal this offseason. Despite playing in a different conference and having no ties to Colorado, he kept an eye on what was happening in Boulder.

“When I was at IU, I would watch (Colorado) games,” Benson said. “And I was like, ‘Man, I know I can do better than them.’ So I didn’t doubt it at all. Once I got into the portal, everything started flowing the way I wanted it to. And that’s what got me here.”

The American football season in Colorado begins on August 29 with a home game against North Dakota State.