The cover of EA Sports College Football 26 will feature a diverse lineup, including current players, coaches, and former stars. A leaked image of the Deluxe Edition cover surfaced on Wednesday, shared by Instagram user TubbyCFB, who obtained photos from a shoot at the Rose Bowl Stadium.
Multiple sources confirmed to The Athletic that the image is real and that the photoshoot took place as reported. However, EA Sports has not verified the image’s authenticity. Given that the game will not launch until summer, the leaked cover may not be the final version. Like CFB25, the game is expected to have multiple cover editions.
Who’s on the Cover?
The leaked image includes several high-profile college football players:
- Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State)
- Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)
- DJ Lagway (QB, Florida)
- Garrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU)
- Nick Singleton (RB, Penn State)
- Ryan Williams (WR, Alabama)
- Sam Leavitt (QB, Arizona State)
- Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
- Dylan Stewart (Edge, South Carolina)
- Bryce Underwood (QB, Michigan, Freshman)
Notably, several college football coaches appear on the cover as well, including:
- Ryan Day (Ohio State)
- Kirby Smart (Georgia)
- James Franklin (Penn State)
- Kenny Dillingham (Arizona State)
- Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss)
This suggests that real coaches could be included in the game, which was not the case in CFB25. Last year, Kiffin even stated he would participate for free.
The cover also features college football legends Reggie Bush, Tim Tebow, and Denard Robinson, all of whom were past cover athletes, possibly hinting at a “Legends Edition” of the game.
Additional Details
Alongside players and coaches, the cover displays mascots from Georgia, Clemson, Oregon, and Tennessee. Flags and fans representing Texas, Indiana, and possibly Toledo also appear, suggesting a broad representation of schools.
What to Expect in CFB26
Following the massive success of CFB25, which became the highest-grossing sports video game ever, fans are eager to see what CFB26 will bring. Gamers have voiced their desire for more customization options, deeper Dynasty and Road to Glory modes, expanded substitution packages, and online crossplay Dynasty.
EA Sports senior vice president Daryl Holt hinted at significant improvements in a January interview with The Athletic.
“We went into it knowing there was a lot of stuff we couldn’t get into the first year,” Holt said. “So there’s a lot of meat left on the bone.”
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