Who Should Be The College Football 26 Cover Athlete?

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Even though EA Sports College Football 26 is a few months away, we can’t help but speculate about who will be chosen as the Cover Athletes. As both college and professional football seasons have ended for the year, we’re eager for anything related to football. Last year, Quinn Ewers, Travis Hunter, and Donovan Edwards graced the cover. Could another trio make it onto this year’s cover art? Let’s take a look at some potential candidates.

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

Jeremiah Smith, WR – Ohio State Buckeyes

As a freshman at Ohio State, Jeremiah Smith had an exceptional debut season in College Football. With the Buckeyes, he achieved impressive milestones such as winning the Cotton Bowl Classic, being named Offensive MVP in the Rose Bowl, and contributing to the team’s national championship title. In his first year, he accumulated over 1,300 yards and scored a total of 16 touchdowns. Notably, he led the team in receiving yards (88) and scored a crucial touchdown during Ohio State’s victory against Notre Dame.

Regardless of Smith being a National Champion, it doesn’t automatically secure a place on the game cover. However, given his remarkable achievements before turning 20, he certainly warrants serious consideration. Amongst all the players here, we strongly feel that he is the one who deserves this spot the most.

Jeremiyah Love, HB – Notre Dame Fighting Irish

In the previous season, love proved to be a ferocious force for the Fighting Irish, amassing over 1,350 yards from scrimmage and scoring 19 total touchdowns. With an average of almost seven yards per carry, his performance was nothing short of impressive. The Fighting Irish’s Football program has witnessed remarkable progress under Head Coach Marcus Freeman in recent years, and players like Love are a big reason why the team has advanced so far.

In the first person, I’d say: Last season, I was only handed the ball about 10 times per game, totalling 163 carries over 2024. However, with my impressive performance for the Fighting Irish, it seems like they’re planning to give me more opportunities in 2025 and beyond as they recognize that I’m one of the top running backs in College Football at present.

Aside from that, we find it exciting to imagine both Love and Jeremiah Smith on the cover of College Football (CFB) issue 26. Madden NFL 10 also tried this with Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald on their cover.

Cade Klubnik, QB – Clemson Tigers

Among potential quarterbacks vying for cover consideration is Cade Klubnik from Clemson University, who scored an impressive 43 touchdowns during the previous season with the Tigers. Last year, he demonstrated his ability to both pass and run, leading a robust offense that averaged close to 35 points per game. As he embarks on his professional journey in 2025, Klubnik will need to elevate his play even further if he aims to make it to the NFL.

Regarding quarterbacks, we think Klubnik should be included in our team’s roster. While Manning is highly admired, Klubnik has demonstrated his skills effectively. On the other hand, we require more evidence from Arch to make an informed decision. However, taking into account Manning’s popularity, it might displace Klubnik from that position.

Arch Manning, QB – Texas Longhorns

It might be worth discussing since it’s quite noticeable. Manning is highly renowned and commercially attractive. He’s also set to claim the starting position this season, with the goal of elevating the Longhorns to greater achievements. All in all, he possesses both the talent and influence that could warrant a cover feature.

It seems quite improbable that Arch Manning will grace the cover of College Football 26, given that EA Sports featured a Texas quarterback (Quinn Ewers) last year. Historically, EA Sports has varied their choices for football titles, opting for different teams and players annually rather than repeating the same one.

It’s not saying Manning’s odds are zero. After all, wouldn’t Electronic Arts pass up the opportunity to boost sales by featuring a highly sought-after athlete on their cover? We’ll see the answer soon enough.

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

To add some excitement, we chose to reserve the final spot for an outstanding duo from HB who shone exceptionally well during 2024. These two running backs managed to surpass the 1,000-yard mark and collectively scored a total of 22 touchdowns in the previous season. Even though Penn State will miss star tight end Tyler Warren, they can rely on their strong committee of running backs who have the potential to secure victories by dominating in the trenches.

One potential issue with this choice is that although the pair perform well together, neither player’s individual statistics are outstanding. However, it’s possible that game developers may be hesitant to feature two players from the same team on the cover. Nevertheless, if they were to do so, these two would undoubtedly be the top picks.

In summary, we’ve narrowed down our favorite choices for the College Football 26 cover athlete, with the official announcement expected later in the year.

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2025-02-19 09:08