College Football 26 beta reveals new features. When does game come out? Are FAMU, HBCUs in it?

There’s still about a month to go before College Football 26 comes out, but some players got to play an early version of it. And it looks like some pretty big changes are underway for the follow-up to last year’s smash hit video game.

EA Sports had a closed beta version of CFB 26 for select players from June 6-8. Not everything in that version will make the final version that gets released in July. But it’s the first chance to see how the game plays and what tweaks are being made to the popular Dynasty and online head-to-head modes (and yes, cross-play between PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles will be available this time).

Some of the biggest changes that were noted during the beta run included dynamic substitutions that lets gamers switch players on and off the field before the snap, as well as improvements to the transfer portal that frustrated fans in CFB 25. The return of the trophy room to show off players’ accomplishments was also a big hit. Customization for created players and coaches added several new layers, including the straight-legged “Michael Myers” pre-snap stance made famous by Ashton Jeanty. Several teams received more true-to-life features, too, including Florida State’s pregame entrance.

Some bigger changes are behind the scenes. Players who opt into the game will receive at least $1,500 and a Deluxe Edition of the game, more than double what they received last year. But schools will also be paid royalties depending on how much gamers play with them in CFB 26.

It’s not all good news, though, as fans of Florida A&M and other HBCUs are upset at their teams’ continued exclusion from the game. They were playable teams before the NCAA Football brand was discontinued after 2013, but College Football 25 didn’t put them in, and it seems that is continuing for this year’s edition.

More info will become available as EA Sports announces its deep dive schedule to lay out all the little tweaks and big changes coming. Fans are also eagerly awaiting the new player and team ratings to be revealed. Here’s what we know so far about College Football 26, including its release date, price, platforms and new features:

When is College Football 26 coming out?

College Football 26 will have its wide release Thursday, July 10. Early access will be available for those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition or MVP Bundle on Monday, July 7.

How much is College Football 26?

The Standard Edition of College Football 26 will cost $69.99. The Deluxe Edition costs $99.99, and the MVP Bundle, which includes the Deluxe Edition of both CFB 26 and Madden 26, is $149.99.

CFB 26 trailer

Will HBCUs be in College Football 26?

No, it doesn’t seem HBCUs like FAMU or Bethune-Cookman will be included in College Football 26. EA Sports announced it would be adding two new teams from the College Football 25 lineup: Delaware and Missouri State, who are transitioning from FCS to FBS this season. But no teams playing in FCS this year will be part of the CFB26 roster.

That’s not to say players can’t find a way to put HBCUs and other FCS schools into the game: Fans used the Create A Team option to put FAMU and other lower-level teams into College Football 25, something that will be an option again for this year’s version.

Will high school be in College Football 26?

The Road to Glory mode will allow a created player to start as a high school football recruit, building a recruiting tape for colleges, earning scholarships, announcing their college decision in a hat ceremony and even decommitting if a better offer comes up.

Here’s a rundown of the new features as announced by EA Sports:

• Real-world coaches
• In-game traditions such as Georgia’s spiked shoulder pads to celebrate turnovers
• Crowd songs such as “Seven Nation Army” and “Enter Sandman”
• Cross-play between consoles for Online Dynasty Mode
• A high-school component in Road to Glory
• Return of Trophy Room to showcase to other players

What’s the difference between the College Football 26 editions?

The Deluxe Edition of College Football 26 includes more bonus features and three-day early access to the game. The MVP Edition’s main bonus is its bundle with Madden 26. Here’s a look at the different pre-order benefits for each edition:

• Standard Edition: includes All Hands Ultimate Team pack, Dynasty coach points and Road to Glory skill points.
• Deluxe Edition: includes Standard Edition bonuses, plus early access, 4600 College Football points, early access Ultimate Team solo challenges and Top Prospect Ultimate Team pack (for orders before June 19).
• MVP Edition: includes Deluxe Edition bonuses, plus Deluxe Edition of Madden 25 and Exclusive Elite Player Ultimate Team pack.

Will College Football 26 be on PS4? Xbox One? PC?

Like CFB 25, College Football 26 will be available to play only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. There are no known plans to make it available for PC gamers and those on previous-gen consoles such as Xbox One and PS4.