Apparently, there were too many "exciting whites" in EA Sports College Football 25. Seeing a white cornerback in college football may not be as rare as in the NFL, but one could argue there was still too many of them in last year's college football game. Prospect diversity as a whole was one of the areas fans wanted to see EA expand upon with EA Sports College Football 26, and it sounds like they've done so. As a result, we'll be seeing fewer white 5-star cornerbacks, among other changes as well.
Responding to a fan's question about increasing prospect diversity, College Football content creator Bordeaux mentioned that he specifically asked EA about 4 five-star white cornerbacks in a single class.
"They said it was addressed," he noted. "I know they worked a lot on the stat balancing with the new archetypes too which will help with replayability. more prospects, far less elite ones."
EA recently released their College Football 26 Dynasty and Team Builder deep dive in which the developer addressed recruit generation in this year's game. EA confirmed that the number of recruits generated each season has been increased to 4,100 players, "providing a deeper and more varied pool of talent for programs at every level."
"As part of this expansion, we’ve also rebalanced several key aspects of recruit generation, including physical and mental abilities, as well as each prospect’s individual ratings," the developer noted.
The player archetype system has also been completely overhauled. There are new player types and physical ability combinations "that better reflect the diversity of players across college football." Wide Receiver, for example, now has seven unique archetypes, each designed to reflect a distinct play style. They are:
- Speedster: A pure burner who takes the top off the defense. Not a technician, but lethal in open space.
- Route Artist: Precise, smooth, and always open. Wins with footwork and timing.
- Physical Route Runner: Big-bodied and technical, but not fast. Great for contested third downs.
- Elusive Route Runner: Shifty before and after the catch. Combines smooth routes with elite YAC ability.
- Gritty Possession: Tough, reliable, and physical. Ideal for option offenses and run blocking on the perimeter.
- Gadget Receiver: A do-it-all player who might take snaps at QB or RB. Built for trick plays and misdirection.
- Contested Specialist: Dominates tight coverage. High-points the ball and wins in jump-ball scenarios.
It's worth nothing that skin tone in the game has no impact on a player's rating or performance. However, if EA is truly looking to create a game that closely reflects the demographics of the college football landscape, then lowering the number of white cornerbacks should create a more realistic football experience. According to the NCAA, 40% of all college football participants are Black. Are there be some Cooper DeJean unicorns? Absolutely, but I think we can all agree that having a dozen five-star white defensive backs felt a bit much.
EA Sports College Football 26 is set to release on July 10, 2025 with early access beginning July 7th for those who purchase the Deluxe Edition or MVP Bundle.