Double Trouble! WR Duo Graces EA Sports College Football 26 Cover!
Banter Nation, get ready to fire up those consoles! For the first time in the history of the beloved EA Sports College Football franchise, we're getting two wide receivers on the standard edition cover! That's right, after absolutely tearing it up in their freshman seasons, Alabama's Ryan Williams and Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith are the chosen ones for College Football 26, set to drop on July 10!
EA is promising even more details, but the hype is already real. These two studs were the undisputed freshman stars of the 2024 season. Williams hauled in 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns, tying for second-most among all freshman wideouts in Division I. Smith, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class, was an absolute force for Ohio State's national title run, leading all freshmen receivers nationwide with an incredible 16 receiving touchdowns and racking up 1,315 yards on 76 catches.
From Little Ryan's Dreams to the Big Stage
For Ryan Williams, this is a dream come true. "I know y’all think I’m young, but growing up, the oldest one I remember is the one with Mark Ingram," Williams told On3. "From there to 2014, just playing those games — if I could ever be on the cover, it would mean the world to me. Just thinking back to little Ryan... If he got to see what was going on right now, I could only imagine how excited he would be. It’s a blessing. It’s super exciting."
He reminisced about those classic game modes: "Just remembering all those memories, playing mascot mode, playing road of glory, all those memories, they all come creeping in. It almost makes you emotional, just because of how exciting it is.” Get ready to feel those nostalgic vibes, because the game that brought so many memories back last year is clearly building on that success!
Deluxe Edition: Coaches, Legends, and More!
But wait, there's more! EA is also dropping a deluxe edition cover that's a who's who of college football. It features a stacked lineup of current head coaches like Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, Oregon’s Dan Lanning, and Penn State’s James Franklin. And for you old-school fans, past EA Sports cover stars Reggie Bush, Tim Tebow, and Denard Robinson are also making an appearance!
EA has confirmed that coaches are indeed in College Football 26. As EA vice president of marketing Evan Dexter stated, "Last year, when we brought back the pride, pageantry, atmospheres and traditions of college football, the response from fans was overwhelming. With College Football 26, we’re celebrating our sophomore season with two generational sophomore wide receivers on the cover, and we can’t wait for the world to experience even more heart and authenticity across athletes, stadiums, coaches and fans.”
The Game That Keeps on Winning
Remember the drought? The original EA college football franchise ran from 1998 to 2013 before being discontinued. Its triumphant return last July as College Football 25 was a massive success, becoming the largest new console game launch in North America in 2024. With 6.5 million unique players and an estimated $400 million in sales, it's clear the game is back and bigger than ever.
Jeremiah Smith expressed his pride: “Being on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26 is a tremendous privilege, and I’m proud to represent Ohio State alongside Coach Day while carrying the Buckeye legacy forward, celebrating the passion of our fans and and the tradition of this incredible program.”
Urban Meyer's "Ones That Got Away"
Speaking of college football legends, Urban Meyer recently reminisced about some of the recruiting battles he lost during his coaching days at Ohio State and Florida. Even a coach with Meyer's success had a few that stung.
At Ohio State, the one that got away was none other than Jabrill Peppers, who ended up playing for arch-rival Michigan. "You talk about the Wolverines," Meyer began. "Jabrill Peppers, I wanted him bad. I think he was a great player.” Peppers indeed tormented the Buckeyes in all three phases, even if Michigan never beat Ohio State during his tenure.
Back in his Florida days, two names haunt Meyer: Patrick Peterson and CJ Spiller. Meyer wanted Peterson "bad" for the Gators, calling him a future Hall of Famer. Peterson ultimately chose LSU and became a No. 5 overall NFL Draft pick.
As for Spiller, Meyer said, "Twenty-five miles from the Swamp… If the Gators would have gotten that cat back in the ’07, ’08 era, it wouldn’t have been fair how much talent we had on that team.” Spiller, who played four seasons at Clemson, averaged 5.3 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns in 2008 when the Gators won the national championship. It seems even the greatest coaches have their "what ifs."
What do you think of the new cover athletes, Banter Nation? Are you hyped for College Football 26? And which recruiting miss still stings you the most for your favorite team? Let us know in the comments!
