Who is on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26? Why Ryan Williams, Jeremiah Smith named NCAA cover athletes

A dynamic duo will grace the cover of EA Sports College Football 26.

Alabama receiver Ryan Williams and Ohio Statewide receiver Jeremiah Smith will be the athletes on the standard cover of this year's video game. There is also a deluxe cover that features other current players, coaches, college football legends and mascots. 

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EA Sports couldn't have picked a more electrifying pair as the faces of the game, which is the second in the franchise's reboot. Williams became a phenomenon during the regular season last year, bursting onto the scene as a 17-year-old freshman. Smith (a more typical 18-year-old freshman) dominated in the College Football Playoff as Ohio State won the national championship.

 Here's a look at the new cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 26

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Who is on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26?

Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith are the athletes on the standard cover of EA Sports College Football 26. Both players became the faces of their schools last season with breakout performances as true freshmen.

Sophomore season loading…

Your #CFB26 Cover Stars @Ryanwms1 + @Jermiah_Smith1

Coming July 10. Full Reveal Thursday.
🔗: https://t.co/Evtg4x97HP pic.twitter.com/AVoMYokJIr

— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) May 27, 2025

Williams became a household name thanks to his acrobatic catches on the biggest stages. He hauled in a spinning touchdown grab in a win over then-No. 2 Georgia that was replayed on highlight reels for weeks. Williams logged 48 receptions for 865 yards and eight receiving touchdowns in 2024-25.

Smith was a major contributor all season long for the Buckeyes, but really made his mark in the postseason. In a CFP quarterfinals win over top-seeded Oregon, he had 7 receptions, 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. Smith also made an over-the-shoulder catch on a deep ball against Notre Dame in the national championship game that clinched the title for the Buckeyes. He finished the year with 76 catches, 1,315 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns.

MORE: Full list of college football players on EA Sports cover since 1993

Maybe it was destiny that Williams and Smith would land on the video game cover together. They recently told The Athletic that when they were in high school, they made plans to team up on the same college squad.

Imagine Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith on the same team.

Williams tried to make it happen during their recruiting process.

“I was like, c’mon, let’s team up. He was like, hmm. We thought about it.”

“I don’t know how you stop that.”https://t.co/ELEbY2Ky8u pic.twitter.com/14cO4u2k3B

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) May 27, 2025

"I tried to get him. I was like, c'mon, let's team up," Williams said.

"It would have been crazy. I don't know how you stop that," Smith added. 

EA Sports College Football covers by year

The first player to be featured on the cover of NCAA football was Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier, a two-time national champion who graduated in 1995. He was on the cover of College Football USA 97. Here's a look at the cover athletes throughout the franchise's history.

EA Sports College Football 26 release date

EA Sports College Football 26 will be released on July 10. 

Fans can access the game three days earlier if they purchase a bundle that includes College Football 26 and Madden 26, whose cover athlete has not been announced yet.