EA Sports College Football 26: Release Date, Cover Athletes, Gameplay Upgrades & How to Pre-Order

EA Sports is officially bringing collegiate gridiron action back to consoles this summer, confirming that EA Sports College Football 26 will launch worldwide on 10 July 2025 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Cover athletes and coaches have been unveiled, with superstar wideouts Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Ryan Williams (Alabama) sharing the standard cover, while Penn State head coach James Franklin and running back Nick Singleton headline the deluxe edition artwork. The cover reveal doubles as the game’s first major marketing beat, fueling anticipation among longtime fans of the dormant NCAA Football series that last released in 2013. Key features highlighted by EA include • 134 fully licensed FBS programs, complete with authentic stadiums, fight songs, and mascots • A revamped Dynasty Mode where users recruit via the modern transfer portal and manage NIL budgets • Road to Glory 2.0, allowing players to start as five-star high-school prospects and build a résumé toward the NFL Draft • Cross-play support in Head-to-Head and Ultimate Team, plus the return of Online Team Builder for custom uniforms and playbooks Pre-orders are live now, offering three days of early access, 4,600 College Football Points, and a choice of historic Heisman winner for Ultimate Team with the $99.99 Deluxe Edition. Standard copies retail for $69.99, and both versions support Smart Delivery upgrades on Xbox. Behind the scenes, ESPN’s Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, and Desmond Howard headline an all-new commentary booth recorded exclusively for next-gen hardware. EA Tiburon also confirmed dynamic weather tied to real-world forecasts, making snow games in the Big Ten or sweltering SEC kickoffs feel authentic down to field-level heat waves. For fans wondering, micro-transactions remain optional; the publisher says the bulk of post-launch monetization centers on cosmetic stadium upgrades and Ultimate Team packs—mirroring Madden’s model but promising a “fair grind path” for competitive players. With NIL agreements ironed out, more than 11,000 current athletes will appear in-game at launch, each receiving a baseline cash payout and a copy of College Football 26, quelling years of compensation debate. EA notes that any athlete opting out will be replaced by a generic roster placeholder, but early reports suggest nearly universal participation. Whether you’re eyeing Dynasty mode’s recruiting battles, reliving classic rivalries like Texas–Oklahoma, or simply counting down to that first Saturday in July, College Football 26 is poised to kick off a new era for virtual Saturdays—and the battle for the digital National Championship is officially on.