EA College Football 26 release: Everything we know about the sports sim

We’ve finally got a lock on the EA College Football 26 release date, and it’s right around the corner. A new Campus Huddle page from EA has given us a clearer picture of what to expect, from returning players and 2,700 new plays to make, including improved abilities that will let you put the pressure on your opponents. 

Here’s what you need to know about EA College Football’s imminent release, from its fresh gameplay features to supported platforms and release date. You’ll also want to know about the EA College Football 26 cover stars and the performances that got them there.

EA College Football 26 is coming out on July 10, 2025 

The EA College Football 26 release date is confirmed to be July 10, 2025. This is in line with the previous College Football release, which was also in July. This gives it a one-month head start over the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) football season. 

Purchase the EA College Football 26 Deluxe Edition and you’ll be able to get your hands on the game three days early (on July 7, 2025). This Early Access period could give you some breathing room as you compete against the very best in Ultimate Team. Unfortunately, the sequel continues the trend of sticking to current-gen consoles, meaning that Xbox One and PS4 players are out of luck, as is anyone hoping the game will arrive on PC (sorry). 

Standard edition is confirmed to be $69.99; $99.99 for the Deluxe Edition

EA has also revealed the EA College Football 26 price for the different editions. You’ll be able to purchase the game via the $69.99 Standard Edition, the $99.99 Deluxe Edition with 3-day Early Access, and the $149.99 MVP bundle packed with in-game bonuses in addition to the Deluxe Edition content. The EA Sports MVP bundle also gives you the Deluxe Edition of NFL 26, making it a solid deal for fans. 

College Football 25 players can get a loyalty offer on the Deluxe Loyalty Edition, featuring a 10% discount and a 99 OVR Player Pack that offers a choice of 1 player item to use in College Football 25 Ultimate Team. You’ll need to avail this on your EA account by June 19, 2025. 

This ties in with the ability to bring your team composition to your new EA College Football 26 teams via the Team Builder feature. And remember, EA Play subscribers can avail a 10% discount and utilize the Early Access Trial right from July 7, 2025. Use these options if you want to drop the asking price before you purchase it.

Here’s what the Standard Edition offers:

The Deluxe Edition steps things up with more bonuses:

Here’s what you can expect from the EA Sports MVP bundle:

Exclusive to Xbox Series X/S and PS5, as with last year’s entry

Like last year, EA College Football 26 will only release on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. A PC release is not in the cards, and we wouldn’t hold our breath for a College Football 26 Switch 2 release either. The previous game wasn’t released on the Switch either.

Players hoping for a wider range of supported EA College Football 26 platforms will be disappointed, but we’re hoping this limited focus ensures a smooth experience at launch.

The latest EA College Football 26 trailer reveals the release date 

The first EA College Football 26 trailer kicked off with the “Enter Sandman” track, confirming new stadium anthems in addition to school-specific chants and mascot appearances. 

EA’s blog post also confirms other features like 300 real-world coaches, dynamic commentary, and a new Wear & Tear fatigue system for enhanced realism. Expect shakeups in the EA College Football 26 roster as well. While EA will confirm more gameplay changes in a deep dive later this summer, they’ve given us a gist of what to expect. 

These include improved blocking, an upgraded physics-based tackling system, and enhanced stunts to optimize your pass rush. Stadium Pulse effects are improved across the board, meaning you’ll face intense camera shakes and clock distortion visuals when you play as a visitor.

The addition of 300 real-world coaches will let you gain insights from decades of experience for plays and recruiting stars in the Dynasty game mode. Road to Glory now includes high school football, letting you rise in recruitment class rankings as you gun for entry into dream universities. And yes, that means you’ll get to participate in the classic Hat Ceremony. 

Your Road To Glory student-athlete can even make their way into Madden NFL 26’s Superstar mode. College Football Ultimate Team returns, and you can import your custom teams from last year into Team Builder when CFB ‘26 launches. Note that these teams can only be used in offline Play Now and private Dynasty modes.

The EA College Football 26 cover stars are Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith 

EA Sports College Football 26’s cover stars were revealed earlier this May. Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith will adorn the Standard Edition cover this year. These stars were chosen for their solid performances last season as some of the country’s finest receivers. Williams blazed new records for the Alabama Crimson Tide while Smith helped the Ohio State Buckeyes successfully claim the National Championship this year.

Meanwhile, the College Football 26 Deluxe Edition cover has a combination of football coaching legends, mascots, and players. These include coaches like Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and Ohio State’s Ryan Day. You’ll also be able to spot players like Cade Klubnik and Nick Singleton on the cover.

EA College Football 26 is a game that football fans have been eagerly anticipating, and the wait is almost over. With brand-new features and improvements to gameplay systems, it’s looking like a strong upgrade over last year’s entry. EA College Football 26 pre-orders also offer a loyalty option for returning players, giving you a neat discount as you hop in-game. 

EA College Football 26 developer EA Tiburon has just begun revealing the game’s new features, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for longtime fans. Stay in the loop with Esports Insider as we deliver all the latest news and updates.