CLEMSON — Clemson has its first cover athlete in the EA Sports’ college football video game franchise.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik is among numerous star coaches, players and mascots to make the deluxe edition cover for “College Football 26,” which will be released July 10. He was accompanied by the Tiger mascot and a member of the Tiger Band.
Klubnik blossomed during his junior season, setting career highs in passing yards (3,639), completions (308) and total touchdowns (43) to lead Clemson to its first ACC championship since 2022 and first College Football Playoff appearance since 2020. He has returned for his senior year in hopes of winning Clemson’s fourth national championship and raising his NFL draft stock.
Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and LSU quarterback Garrett Nusmeier are among players on the cover with Klubnik.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney did not make the cover, but Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Penn State’s James Franklin, Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin and Oregon’s Dan Lanning are on the deluxe edition.
On the standard edition of the game, OSU’s Jeremiah Smith and Alabama’s Ryan Williams are the cover athletes.
The college football video game returned last year after not being in production since 2013. It was halted for more than a decade after former college football players sued EA Sports over name, image and likeness rights in 2013. The company reached a settlement and discontinued the game.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
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