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Today, the EA SPORTS NCAA Football development team streamed the first look at NCAA Football 13 with their Sights and Sounds webcast. If you missed it you can watch the broadcast here via livestream as well as it's embedded after the break. They have also now given us two blogs: one via paakaa10 and one via developer Christian McLeod discussing the audio portions of the game to go along with some of the screenshots seen during today's presentation. Continue after the break to watch the video, see the pictures, and read the blogs from today's news as well as a link to the webcast for those that missed it.

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As we previously reported, Monday, April 2nd, the first details of NCAA Football 13 will be posted by EA SPORTS on their website. Today on the NCAA Football series' Facebook page, we learned that they'll actually be delivering that information via webcast on their site. The webcast will begin at 2pm ET and is expected to last for an hour. No other details are available at this time but we'll be sure to update you as we learn anything further. As well, after that webcast, those of us who were able to attend some of the community events will be able to share whatever details we can regarding the discussed changes for Sights and Sounds. What is your biggest priority for sights and sounds in NCAA 13? ...

This is the third part in a series looking at the NCAA Football franchise as we enter the seventh year of NCAA Football on the next-gen consoles.

In July of 2008, the NCAA Football franchise would take a major leap, perhaps the biggest single year improvement in the history of the franchise to date.

In a rare move for the video game industry, on April 1 – almost three and a half months before release – EA SPORTS shared every game feature with the community. The items were not explained in any detail, but that was the first time NCAA Football community members would learn of the addition of Online Dynasty, the feature that would help change the face of the franchise forever. Not only would it prove successful for the series, but it would become a feature highly requested in other sports franchises due to its success. It began a shift of moving the franchise from just a game to an experience. Being able to complete in a Dynasty with friends from around the country opened up new avenues of game discussion, bragging, and camaraderie. ...

The My Heisman NCAA Football 13 cover vote is now underway and has hit the Championship Round with Barry Sanders facing off against Herschel Walker.

Fan voting will determine which Heisman legend will share the cover of NCAA Football 13 with Robert Griffin III. The voting is taking place on the EA SPORTS NCAA Football Facebook page. Fans are limited to one vote per day. ...

The official NCAA Football 13 product page has listed on the 'Playbook' page the current schedule for release in-game information as well as brief descriptions for each game area.

April 2 - Sights & Sounds
April 17 - Gameplay
May 7 - Dynasty
May 28 - Heisman Challenge
June 11 - Road to Glory

Continue on for the full description for each upcoming game announcement. ...

Think you can predict how the NCAA Tournament will shake out? Join The Gaming Tailgate's 2012 Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com and prove it.

The group is free to join and a prize will be awarded to the winner. Continue on to get the full info for joining the TGT Tournament Challenge Group. ...

Check out the new podcast series for the NCAA Football 13 video game. The first episode has AJ, Ben Haumiller, and Justin Dewiel discuss the cover vote for who will join RGIII on the cover of NCAA Football 13. They will also discuss the upcoming rule changes that will take effect this football season. ...

Late Sunday evening, the flagship radio station for the Baylor Bears (1660 AM ESPN Central Texas) tweeted out a report that former Baylor quarterback and 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will be on the cover of NCAA Football 13 and it was officially announced & confirmed Monday morning on The Dan Patrick Show.

Beginning March 13, fans can visit the NCAA Football Facebook page to vote for one of former eight Heisman Trophy winners to join Griffin on the cover. This appears to confirm some role for former Heisman Trophy winners in the game. ...

The NCAA Playing Oversight Panel has approved new rules regarding kickoffs and touchbacks that - thanks to the NCAA Football dev team - The Gaming Tailgate can confirm will be in NCAA Football 13. "Our guys are already on it and these changes will be in NCAA 13," said NCAA Football producer Ben Haumiller in a statement via e-mail.

The Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) during its conference call on Tuesday approved moving the kickoff and touchback lines beginning with the 2012 football season.

Next fall, teams will kick off at the 35-yard line instead of the 30. Also, touchbacks on free kicks will be moved to the 25-yard line instead of the 20 to encourage more touchbacks. Touchbacks on other plays (for example, punts that go into the end zone, or fumbles that go out of the end zone) will remain at the 20-yard line.

The recommended changes came from the Football Rules Committee after that group examined NCAA data showing that injuries during kickoffs occur more often than in other phases of the game. (Click here for the full release.)

Let us know how you think this rule change will alter special teams and field position in NCAA Football as well as in real-life action. ...