NCAA Football 12 Cover: Latest EA Masterpiece Gives Fans Taste of NFL

EA Sports is once again saving the world from the doldrums of our daily lives. The video game behemoth is set to release NCAA Football 12 on Tuesday, and they have added a twist to the cover. 

EA Sports held a vote to see who would appear on the cover of the latest collegiate football game. In the end, former Alabama running back, Mark Ingram, won out. 

Ingram will be the standard cover for all your Xbox 360 and PS3 needs. I stress standard, because EA grants the decision to change the cover to fans. In fact, you can download and print three alternate covers. 

All of them are the runners-up to the initial vote. Fans of the game will get to slide in an insert of Jake Locker, DeMarco Murray or Nick Fairley. 

For now, this will be as close as we will get to NFL goodness. The likeness of four former collegiate stars on the cover of our recently purchased NCAA Football 12. 

As the NFL lockout persists, we are left to clamor to anything that involves a pigskin. That may make the latest iteration of NCAA Football the most wide-selling. And really, that wouldn't be that bad of a deal. 

The company has built off the success of last year's triumph, and delivered another great game for lovers of football at any level. You can expect the same controls as last year.

Most of the changes have gone into beefing up what was already a great presentation of the game. The pomp and circumstance of college game day is here. Now you don't have to wait for Saturdays in September. You can bust out the tailgate gear and start grilling. 

One of the best franchises in video games returns to much success and fanfare. There is just one thing to do now. Let's break down those covers. 

Standard Cover: Mark Ingram

When you slide on into your local Best Buy and plunk down everything you have in that piggy bank, you will receive this fine looking cover. 

The winner of the fan vote was one of the best running backs in the nation last year. He was far and away the most sought-after back in the NFL draft. 

Mark Ingram is the prized possession of the New Orleans Saints. But you can now bring him home and relive his Alabama days. You know, because there is no NFL and all. 

Alternate Cover: DeMarco Murray

DeMarco Murray played second-fiddle to Mark Ingram at the NFL draft, and he does so again here in the race to the NCAA Football 12 cover. 

Oklahoma Sooners fans will argue that he is first in their hearts. Well, you can take out that Ingram cover and rip it to shreds. 

Then you can download your Murray cover. All will be right with the world, assuming you have a printer of course. 

Get your alternate cover here. 

Alternate Cover: Jake Locker

Tennessee Titans fans get one of the best quarterbacks in the nation to come in and sort the mess out. It is a good thing considering your cupboard is bare at the moment. 

Locker is a great big body that will command the field for years to come, or he will fail miserably. Honestly, I am more keen on seeing him grace my Xbox 360 cover before I pop in my disk. I will then load my Cal Golden Bears with a freshly revamped quarterback and kill the Huskies. 

God, I love this game. 

Get your alternate cover here. 

Alternate Cover: Nick Fairley

Nick Fairley was one reason the Auburn Tigers took out the Oregon Ducks in the National Title game. Now Ducks fans can rewrite history. 

It will be much easier without Fairley commanding the line. The bruiser has taken his talents to the Detroit Lions. Paired with Ndamukong Suh, there won't be a quarterback anywhere that will want to play the lions next season, assuming we have one. 

Not to worry, football is saved. Thanks to EA Sports, you can live out all your gridiron dreams with the newest NCAA Football 12. 

Get your alternate cover here.