Big news for music and college football fans—South Carolina’s Carolina Band just hit a wild milestone. After months of rumors and waiting, EA Sports dropped their songs as part of the Official College Football ‘27 Soundtrack for the upcoming video game.
This comes right after their grand-prize win in the 3rd Annual Metallica Marching Band Competition – Collegiate Edition. Not only did they walk away with $50,000 and some serious bragging rights, but they also got to record a Metallica song and the opening theme for EA Sports’ highly anticipated College Football ‘27.
Carolina Band’s Path to Victory
Their road to this moment kicked off earlier this year. The Carolina Band entered a competition run by Metallica themselves.
They put on a Metallica-themed halftime show during the October 18, 2025, home game against Oklahoma. The performance was so strong that Robert Trujillo, Metallica’s bassist, ended up announcing them as winners on Instagram.
The Competition
It wasn’t exactly an easy win. The University of Illinois’ Marching Illini landed in third, and Virginia Tech’s Marching Virginians took second.
Coming out on top in the Division 1 category? That says a lot about the talent and drive these Carolina Band members have.
Recording and Release of the Songs
Part of the grand prize included recording two songs for EA Sports. In March, EA Sports sent a recording team to Columbia to capture the band’s takes.
It’s been months of anticipation, and now, just days before the game’s global release on July 9, EA Sports has finally put the Carolina Band’s tracks out on major streaming platforms like Spotify.
The Albums
EA Sports is rolling out two albums for the new game: Halftime and Fight Songs, Vol. 3. The Carolina Band’s songs are right up at the top of both albums, which honestly feels pretty deserved.
For their Metallica pick, they went with Sad But True—a heavy-hitting classic from 1991. EA Sports’ version is loud, sharp, and honestly, it just rocks.
On Fight Songs, Vol. 3, the Carolina Band also did their own version of Campus Clash, which is EA Sports’ signature theme for the College Football series. It’s one of those tracks that gets you hyped before you even start playing.
Other Notable Tracks
The Halftime album brings in a bunch of other big songs, like:
- Take On Me
- 24k Magic
- Levitating
- I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Plus, teams like North Dakota State University and Sacramento State have their fight songs featured on Fight Songs, Vol. 3 too.
Pre-Orders and Game Release
There’s a lot of buzz around this game dropping soon. It’s coming out worldwide on July 9 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Epic Games, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and the EA App.
If you’re impatient, pre-orders are open so you can lock in your copy early.
Behind the Scenes
Metallica even shared a video showing some of the behind-the-scenes action. It’s a cool peek at just how much energy and heart the Carolina Band poured into these recordings.
If you want to dig into the full story, check out the article on The State.
Conclusion
Including the Carolina Band’s music in EA Sports’ College Football ‘27 is a real nod to their skill and dedication. It’s honestly a pretty big deal for the band, and it spices up the game for players everywhere.
With the release date creeping closer, excitement’s definitely in the air. Fans are counting down the days, just waiting to hear that music in-game.
Keep an eye out—there’s bound to be more news and fun tidbits as this story keeps unfolding in the world of college football and music.
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