EA Sports found a song that sounds eerily similar to Enter Sandman for Virginia Tech's entrance

After an 11-year hiatus, EA Sports is back with College Football 25 for this season. And among the features is an added emphasis on replicating the unique atmospheres, pageantry and entrances for top college football programs. But given licensing costs for music (or, really, EA’s unwillingness to pay), it wasn’t feasible for every program.

When it came to Virginia Tech, though, EA Sports appeared to get as close as legally possible to the real thing.

Back in May, it was reported that Metallica’s Enter Sandman would not be included in Virginia Tech’s iconic entrance at Lane Stadium for the game. Instead, EA Sports would settle for a generic rock anthem. That *generic* anthem turned out to be almost indistinguishable from the actual song.

Check it out:

Enter Sandman in the new CFB25 game (not beta) pic.twitter.com/Tlp5sqb6tx

— Jackson Didlake (@diidlake) July 15, 2024

Sure, there are no vocals, and there are slight changes to the song’s progression. But it’s so obviously trying to be a replica of Enter Sandman — almost to the point that Metallica might take issue with it.

Fans certainly appreciated that EA Sports tried to come as close as it could to Enter Sandman. That Virginia Tech entrance needed to be included in the game, and this version did it justice.

This was how Twitter/X reacted

If you play Enter Sandman and then hit "Advance to game" 31 seconds in it syncs up perfectly https://t.co/7MQZrYLzfE

— Kofie (@Kofie) July 16, 2024

i appreciate that they didn't halfass the legally distinct not enter sandman track https://t.co/sgXozBKIAq

— zack (@thefluxandflow) July 16, 2024

Honestly sounds pretty close https://t.co/nIhT6yuiuM

— Zac Kracht (@ZacKracht22) July 15, 2024

Hell. Yes. (they did their best) https://t.co/njFDFOX0Af

— BrianRobinsonSZN (@CommiesFan) July 15, 2024

This legit sounds like Enter Sandman lol. https://t.co/YegcArKk8O

— TitoMac (@TitoMacallan) July 14, 2024

I think they nailed it tbh https://t.co/ia3WrPMYlI

— Cade Webb (@cadewebb) July 13, 2024

Works for me. https://t.co/4kb2ECNx7U

— Denzell (@Denzell_Of_NSH) July 13, 2024

This still sounds faintly like Metallica. I’ll take it https://t.co/bNuGxzxxZM

— Trash Can Hokies (@TrashCanHokies) July 13, 2024

Oh my goodness it’s so beautiful #CFB25 https://t.co/j4EyVwxLHH

— Derrick Young (@MrCthulhuTTV) July 14, 2024