Who Should Be The College Football 26 Cover Athlete?

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Although EA Sports College Football 26 is several months away, there’s no denying our anticipation for who will be gracing the game’s cover. With both college and professional football seasons over, we’re eagerly waiting for any football-related news. Last year, Quinn Ewers, Travis Hunter, and Donovan Edwards were the faces on the cover. Could another trio take their place this year? Let’s explore some potential candidates.

The Top 5 Best EA Sports College Football 26 Cover Athlete Candidates

Jeremiah Smith, WR – Ohio State Buckeyes

Freshman Jeremiah Smith had an exceptional debut season in College Football, one that any player would be proud of. With the Buckeyes, he clinched victories in the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Rose Bowl (earning the Offensive MVP title), and the National Championship. In his inaugural year at Ohio State, he amassed over 1,300 yards and scored a total of 16 touchdowns. What truly sets him apart is that he was the leading receiver for the team with 88 yards, contributing to their triumph over Notre Dame.

Being a National Champion doesn’t automatically earn Smith a place on the box art. However, given his impressive achievements prior to turning 20, it’s hard not to take him into account. Among all the players on this list, we think he is the one who deserves that spot the most.

Jeremiyah Love, HB – Notre Dame Fighting Irish

In the previous season, Love proved to be a relentless force for the Fighting Irish football team. He racked up more than 1,350 yards from scrimmage, found the end zone 19 times, and managed an impressive average of almost seven yards per rush. The Fighting Irish’s football program has experienced remarkable growth in recent years under the leadership of Head Coach Marcus Freeman. Players like Love are a big reason why the team achieved such great success.

In addition, he typically carried the ball approximately 10 times per game, with a total of 163 carries over the course of 2024. We believe that he will receive more opportunities to play in 2025 and beyond, as it appears that the Fighting Irish possess one of the top running backs in College Football at this time.

Aside from that, it would be quite exciting if both Love and Jeremiah Smith could feature on the College Football 26 magazine cover, much like how Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald shared the Madden NFL 10 cover in the past.

Cade Klubnik, QB – Clemson Tigers

In addition to other quarterbacks who might grace the cover, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik is another contender, boasting an impressive 43 touchdowns in the previous season with the Tigers. Last year, Klubnik demonstrated his versatility by both passing and running effectively, leading a potent offense that scored close to 35 points per game on average. To make it to the NFL, he’ll have to elevate his play even further when the new season kicks off in 2025.

Regarding quarterbacks, we feel that Klubnik is worthy of a place on the team. Although Manning is much-loved, Klubnik has demonstrated his abilities, whereas we require more evidence from Arch. However, given Manning’s popularity, this could potentially displace Klubnik from his position.

Arch Manning, QB – Texas Longhorns

It might be worth discussing him due to his notable popularity and marketability. Manning is indeed a standout, and this season, he’s been assigned the starting job for the Longhorns. His role is to elevate the team to greater achievements. All things considered, his talents and influence seem fitting for a cover spotlight.

As a die-hard football fan, I must admit that while it’s exciting to speculate about Arch Manning gracing the cover of College Football 26, the chances seem slim. Last year, EA Sports featured a Texas QB (Quinn Ewers), and history shows they often rotate their choices within the same sport. In fact, with other sports titles, they’ve kept Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney as their cover star for consecutive years. But when it comes to Football, EA Sports has always opted for a diverse roster, showcasing different teams and players each time.

It’s not saying that Manning has no chance at all. Given how popular he is, wouldn’t Electronic Arts pass up the opportunity to boost sales by featuring him on their cover art? We’ll see the answer to that question in due time.

Kaytron Allen & Nicholas Singleton, HB – Penn State Nittany Lions

To add excitement, we chose to reserve the final position for an outstanding duo of running backs who excelled in 2024. These two players accumulated over a thousand yards rushing collectively and scored a total of 22 touchdowns last season. Even though Penn State will miss standout tight end Tyler Warren, they possess a strong running back committee capable of securing victories through powerful ground attacks.

This combination of players works exceptionally well, but neither’s personal statistics stand out remarkably. The developers could potentially have reservations about featuring two players from the same team on the game’s cover. However, among all options, these two would be the most suitable for that role.

In summary, we’ve compiled our favorite choices for the cover athlete of College Football 26. We’re looking forward to unveiling the actual selection towards the end of this year.

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2025-02-19 00:08