Ranking Top Options to be Cover Star of EA Sports College Football 26 Video Game

It's time for a new college football cover athlete.

On Thursday, EA Sports announced that College Football 26 will be releasing later in the year following the popularity of CFB 25.

EA Sports returned to the college football landscape with the game, marking the company's first release featuring the sport since NCAA Football 14.

College Football 25 launched on July 19, becoming the best-selling sports game ever released on the U.S. market (via Sports Business Journal).

While some sports games feature just one cover athlete each year, three players were on the front of CFB 25. This included Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Michigan running back Donovan Edwards and Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter.

Ewers was the starter on a Longhorns team that made a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, while Hunter thrived on both ends of the ball with the Buffaloes before earning 2024 Heisman Trophy honors. Edwards and the Wolverines finished the year with a record of 8-5 after taking down Ohio State and Alabama in their final two games of the season.

College Football 26 could feature multiple cover athletes once again, or the game could choose to feature only one player.

If that's the case, here are a few top options.

After wrapping up a strong freshman season, expectations are high for Ryan Williams entering his second year at Alabama.

At just 17 years old, he immediately developed into a key piece of a Crimson Tide squad that finished with the third-best scoring offense in the SEC.

Williams went on a tear to open the season, racking up 544 yards and six touchdowns through his first five games while averaging an incredible 28.6 yards per reception. This included a six-catch, 177-yard performance against Georgia in which he scored the game-winning touchdown with just over two minutes remaining.

What prevents Williams from ranking higher on the list is his relatively slow finish to the year.

Over his final five appearances, he caught 13 passes for a mere 163 yards and one score. Williams was also held to just eight yards on three receptions during Alabama's loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Still, his freshman year should be considered an immense success overall. On the season, he finished with 865 yards and eight touchdowns.

Williams is expected to remain a pillar of the Tide's passing attack moving forward, and it isn't difficult to imagine him getting off to another fast start with a full offseason in the college landscape under his belt.

He could also find himself on the cover of College Football 26.

Jeremiah Smith's 2024 campaign isn't over just yet, but the freshman wideout is still a strong candidate to be featured on the cover of the upcoming video game.

In his first year with Ohio State, Smith has already established himself as the most productive receiver on a team that'll be competing with Notre Dame for a national championship.

Through 15 games, the 19-year-old has hauled in 71 receptions for 1,227 yards. Smith's 14 touchdowns catches are tied for the third-most in the country. He's also been an occasional factor on the ground, rushing for 52 yards and a score on five attempts.

Smith has remained productive throughout the season, recording five games with at least 100 receiving yards and four games with multiple touchdowns.

Despite a three-yard performance against Texas, he's also been effective during the Buckeyes' current College Football Playoff run. In three games, Smith has caught 14 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns.

If he's able to make an impact against Notre Dame's No. 2 pass defense in the country and help Ohio State win a national title, it'll further solidify his case to be included on the cover.

Even if Smith ultimately can't help the Buckeyes capture a championship, he's still worthy of the recognition regardless.

As Arch Manning prepares for his first season as a full-time starter at Texas, he may already find himself on the cover of College Football 26.

After Quinn Ewers declared for the 2025 NFL draft on Wednesday, the path became clear for Manning to take over under center for the Longhorns next season.

The 19-year-old's 2025 debut will be highly anticipated, not just because he's the nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning. Arch was a 5-star recruit in high school who ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

He played sparingly during his first year at Texas before he received extended time on the field in 2024 once Ewers suffered an oblique strain against UTSA on Sept. 14.

Manning looked comfortable during his brief experience in a larger role and continued to stay sharp when called upon throughout the remainder of the season. He completed 67.8 percent of his throws for 939 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with just two interceptions.

He also showcased an ability to make plays with his legs, rushing for 108 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries.

Manning has already helped promote the previous game, as he was featured in a video revealing his inclusion on the College Football 25 roster with Eli in July 2024.

With the Longhorns looking to compete for another CFP berth as Manning opens the 2025 season as a starter, the hype surrounding him could cause him to become the next cover athlete for the game.