Meanwhile, Smith was nothing short of College Football 26 Coins dominant in his inaugural season at Ohio State. The No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class lived up to every bit of the hype, hauling in 76 passes for 1,315 yards and an eye-popping 16 touchdowns—the most of any freshman receiver in the country. He quickly became the go-to target in Ohio State’s offense and played a crucial role in their championship campaign.

For Williams, the cover honor carries deep personal meaning. Speaking with On3, he shared his journey from playing the franchise as a kid to now becoming a part of it in a historic way. “I know y’all think I’m young, but growing up, the oldest one I remember is the one with Mark Ingram,” he said. “From there to 2014, just playing those games — if I could ever be on the cover, it would mean the world to me.” He reminisced about the hours spent in mascot mode and Road to Glory, describing the announcement as almost surreal and deeply emotional.

In addition to the standard edition, EA is releasing a deluxe edition cover loaded with college football star power. This version features a host of high-profile head coaches such as Kirby Smart (Georgia), Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), James Franklin (Penn State), Dan Lanning (Oregon), Kenny Dillingham (Arizona State), and Ryan Day (Ohio State). Iconic former players like Reggie Bush, Tim Tebow, and Denard Robinson also appear, bridging past and present in a celebration of the sport’s legacy.

Perhaps most significantly, EA has confirmed that coaches will be fully integrated into College Football 26—a first for the revived series. This feature builds on the enormous fan response to College Football 25, which reintroduced the pageantry and spirit of the sport in immersive ways.

“Last year, when we brought back the pride, pageantry, atmospheres, and traditions of college football, the response from fans was overwhelming,” said Evan Dexter, EA’s Vice President of Marketing. “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 CUT 26 Coins experience even more heart and authenticity across athletes, stadiums, coaches, and fans.”