EA Sports College Football 25 was a huge hit, and so it’s only logical that the thirst for its successor is high. When an apparent cover image for EA College Football 26 leaked online on Wednesday, the fanbase erupted.
While gaming publishers traditionally hate leaks, the level of excitement this photo posted by On3 generated tells you all you need to know about how amped fans are for the next game in the series.
Some fans are slamming the cover, which partially explains why companies hate leaks. People overreact to unfinished things that have been circulated without the intended presentation. That dynamic can sour the public on a theme before it is delivered in a way that gives the idea a fair shot at succeeding.
Oh well, so goes humanity and the internet.
That said, it’s doubtful this is the finished version. It’s more appropriate to look at this as a preview of the idea EA has for next year’s game from a player and coach focus standpoint.
Ohio State wunderkind, Jeremiah Smith and LSU signal-caller Grant Nussmeier are featured prominently as well as Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love.
We may be getting some coaches added to the mix as Sports Illustrated dropped these names of athletes and coaches who were reportedly at the photo shoot that generated the leak:
Players
- Florida QB DJ Lagway
- Alabama WR Ryan Williams
- Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith
- Michigan QB Bryce Underwood
- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier
- Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
- Ohio State S Caleb Downs
- Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt
- South Carolina EDGE Dylan Stewart
Coaches Reportedly at Photo Shoot
- Kirby Smart, Georgia
- James Franklin, Penn State
- Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
- Ryan Day, Ohio State
- Dan Lanning, Oregon
- Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
I fell in love with EA College Football 25’s gameplay from the start. My biggest hope for EA College Football 26 is to see an expansion in team and player creation. The inclusion of NIL players handicapped users too much, and hopefully some wiggle room will be created.
The leaked cover image has fueled speculation among fans, particularly with the inclusion of prominent players like Smith and Nussmeier. Featuring these rising stars show us who EA Sports is looking to highlight for the upcoming season. The presence of coaches such as Kirby Smart and Ryan Day also raises questions about whether coaching elements will play a bigger role in the game, potentially adding new mechanics to gameplay.
With the game still in development, the leaked cover image is just the beginning of what’s likely to be a long stretch of speculation, wish lists, and reveals.
EA College Football 25 sold 2.2 million copies of its Deluxe Edition during the Early Access period alone. While some of those purchases could be attributed to fans’ hunger for the return of college football to the video game space, I believe there is longevity and arguably more growth available with the franchise.
The development team delivered an amazing foundational piece for the rebooted series and it is rooted in a sustainable and easy-to-expand concept that suggests last year’s game is just the beginning of the rebirth.
If EA Sports delivers on the hype, College Football 26 could further solidify the series’ return as a staple in sports gaming. EA College Football 26 is expected to release in July.
