In a move sure to shake the very foundations of college football fandom and cause countless couches to spontaneously combust, EA Sports has blessed us all by slapping Alabama's Ryan Williams and Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith on the cover of College Football 26. Forget legends, icons, or coaches—just two sophomore wide receivers, because who needs experience when you’ve got fresh faces gumming up the gridiron? But wait, the Deluxe Edition goes full nostalgia-trip with a carnival sideshow of mascots, coaches, and even that unsettling Oregon Duck who apparently stares into your soul and judges your fantasy picks.
EA promises this sophomore season of virtual pigskin glory will be dripping with “heart and authenticity,” which is apparently measured by how many football legends and mascots you can cram into one cover. July 10 is when gamers can finally live their dream of running routes with these young phenoms while dodging the gaze of that judgmental duck. Because nothing screams true college football spirit like a video game cover that looks like a reunion of every mascot convention and coaching staff photo ever taken. So fire up those PlayStations and Xboxes—because if you can’t get enough sophomores pretending to be legends, this game is your playground.