Returning players—those who purchased College Football 25 or one of the last three Madden installments—are eligible for College Football 26 Coins a 10% preorder discount, a nod to EA’s growing loyalty program.

The NIL Factor and Athlete Compensation

After more than a decade of legal and regulatory battles surrounding athlete compensation, the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era has changed the game for both players and publishers. EA's return to college football gaming with College Football 25 in 2024 was made possible by the new NIL framework. The company paid each player who appeared in that game $600, a figure that was considered groundbreaking at the time.

The results spoke for themselves: College Football 25 became the best-selling sports video game in U.S. history by dollar sales, according to Circana. For College Football 26, EA is doubling down—literally—by offering significantly higher payouts to participating athletes. According to reports from The Athletic’s Chris Vannini, compensation for player likenesses will more than double in this year’s game, highlighting EA’s commitment to fair player representation.

Texas Duo Opts Out of Cover Appearance

Notably absent from this year’s marketing campaign are Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian and star quarterback Arch Manning. The pair opted out of a photoshoot at the Rose Bowl, which was reportedly intended for promotional material for College Football 26. Last year, Texas QB Quinn Ewers featured prominently on the cover alongside Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Michigan’s Donovan Edwards.

Despite their absence, a leaked image of the Deluxe Edition cover showed several confirmed athletes and coaches, including Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs, Alabama’s Ryan Williams, Penn State’s Nick Singleton, and Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. Prominent coaches such as NCAA Football 26 Coins for sale Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Oregon’s Dan Lanning also appear, alongside football legends like Tim Tebow and Reggie Bush.