Anticipation is building towards the reveal of EA Sports College Football 26, which should be sometime this week. I say should because after being announced in April, EA had promised a more in-depth reveal would take place in May.
Well, here we are with just a few days left in the month, and so far it's been radio silence. It's a federal holiday in the United States today, so we probably shouldn't expect anything today. However, it does set the stage for the reveal to take place any other day this week. I expect EA to tease something on Tuesday, with a full reveal scheduled for Friday, May 30th, but that's just my own personal prediction.
As I previously pointed out, last year's EA Sports College Football 25 was officially unveiled on May 17, 2024, the third Friday of the month. This led to speculation that EA Sports College Football 26 would be revealed on or around Friday, May 16th, which, of course, didn't happen.
So for now, we're left waiting, but the clock is ticking. EA Sports College Football 26 is slated to launch on July 10th with a three-day Early Access period beginning on July 7th for those who purchase the Deluxe Edition of the game.
Although EA hasn't talked much about EA Sports College Football 26, we have learned some details through leaks and other sources.
Who will be on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26?
Back in March, we got our first hint about the cover of this year's game. Leaked photos from what was said to be the cover photo shoot featured dozens of athletes, coaches, and school mascots. See in the group photo were current players such as Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State running back Nick Singleton, Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart and Michigan true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood.
Some former players — including previous cover athletes of past installments in the franchise — were also seen, including: Reggie Bush (NCAA Football 07), Tim Tebow (NCAA Football 11), and Denard Robinson (NCAA Footbal 14).
There were also coaches like Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Penn State’s James Franklin, Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, and Ole Miss’s Lane Kiffin, and mascots representing Georgia, Clemson, Oregon, and Tennessee.
A photo of a potential cover of EA Sports College Football 26's Deluxe Edition has leaked online. The Athletic's @chrisvannini.com confirmed with multiple people that the photo was real and the photoshoot took place on Wednesday. Full story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/619...
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— The Athletic (@theathletic.bsky.social) March 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
It was thought that this could be the cover for the Deluxe Edition of the game. The cover for the Standard Edition may have been leaked this week, though, when Christopher "Florida Gator Man" Hobby (@christopher_hobbzilla) shared some additional behind-the-scenes photos.
One photo in particular featured the trio of Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. These are some of college football's biggest names, and it's possible they could serve as the representative of this year's game. If you recall, the cover of EA Sports College Football 25 also featured three players -- Quinn Ewers (Texas), Travis Hunter (Colorado), and Donovan Edwards (Michigan) -- so it's possible EA took a similar approach with EA Sports College Football 26.
What gameplay improvements or new modes are there?
Unfortunately, specifics regarding gameplay, such as new features, improved mechanics, or new modes, have not been revealed. However, the initial announcement trailer, coupled with a brief description of the game, suggests a larger focus on Road to Glory. There looks to be more emphasis on player development and the recruiting process, as well as a more realistic draft experience.
Make game day, every day. From high school recruit to NFL legend, you can live the entire football journey with EA SPORTS™ College Football 26 Deluxe Edition and Madden NFL 26 Deluxe Edition.
As a primary Dynasty player, I'm hoping we see some major improvements there. The college football gaming community has made their desires known, and some of their most requested features include NIL integration, expanding coaching staff, formation substitutions, and improved stats and records tracking. Let's hope EA didn't ignore Dynasty in favor of Road to Glory and Ultimate Team.
Sports commentator Rece Davis recently shared a behind-the-scenes photo of his voice work for EA Sports College Football 26, teasing an "elevated" season experience with "added layers."
EA Sports College Football release date, pricing, and platforms
The only thing EA has gone into depth with is the pricing and pre-order details for EA Sports College Football 26.
The game will be released on July 10, 2025, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It will not be available on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, and so far, there has been no announcement for PC or the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
In addition to the Standard Edition ($69.99), there's also the Deluxe Edition for $99.99, which includes three-day early access starting on July 7th, along with 4,600 College Football Points, Early Access Ultimate Team Solo Challenges, Road to Glory Skill Points, and more.
For football fans who also plan on purchasing Madden NFL 26, there's the MVP Bundle. Available for $149.99, this bundle includes the Deluxe Editions of both College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26 —a savings of $50 if you were to purchase both individually. It's also only $10 more than buying the Standard Edition of both games separately.
That's all we know for now, but be sure to check back this week as we'll be sure to cover every announcement regarding EA Sports College Football 26.