Last year, EA Sports finally resurrected one of its most famous franchises after 11 years: the College Football series. After over a decade, the anticipation was palpable—not only among fans but also at the studio that developed the game, many of whom have dreamed about bringing it back for over a decade.
This year’s edition, EA Sports College Football 26, is not just a game, but a passion project, infusing many years of ideas, fan feedback from last year, and impacts from the complexities of college sports. In a recent interview with On3’s Andy Staples, Ben Haumiller, the chief game designer, explained how the revived series is growing.
A Decade of Dreams: The Passion Behind College Football 25 and Beyond
For many on the EA Sports team, the College Football series is more than a professional milestone—it’s deeply personal.
“I feel like I’ve grown up with this title, and it goes away for 11 years. So I’ve been building this in my head for 11 years,” shared Chief Game Designer Ben Haumiller in an interview with On3’s Andy Staples, reflecting the collective anticipation and creative energy that’s been simmering since the last release in 2013.
This isn’t just nostalgia at play. The development team is stacked with die-hard college football fans who live and breathe the sport.
“We are college football fans through and through. I watch more college football by 3:30 opening weekend than NFL the entire year,” another developer admits.
This passion translates into a relentless pursuit of authenticity and detail, from the roar of the crowd to the intricacies of new playoff rules, which, impressively, were implemented into the game just hours after being announced in real life. The journey back to the digital gridiron was also shaped by the fans.
“We listen to what fans wanted to say. If you’re playing this game for a thousand hours, those little things can annoy you to no end. And we know that. They annoyed us ’cause we’re playing it too,” Haumiller explained.
This fan-first philosophy is evident in everything from gameplay tweaks to the inclusion of real coaches and player likenesses, a feature made possible by recent changes in NIL regulations.
What truly sets College Football 26 apart is its commitment to capturing the spirit and complexity of the modern college game.
“The world of college football keeps changing and keeps evolving. So, like we just put in the new playoff rules this last week. It got announced and was straight in the game,” says a developer, highlighting the game’s ability to mirror the real-life sport with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
This attention to detail extends well beyond the field. The team has painstakingly recreated stadiums, mascots, and now, for the first time, head coaches and coordinators.
“Most coaches have not seen their likeness yet. I think some will see that for the first time today with the trailer that goes out. We have plenty more to go with that,” the team reveals, underscoring the ongoing effort to make every aspect of the game feel authentic.
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According to EA Sports, all 136 FBS schools are represented in College Football 26, making it one of the most comprehensive college sports titles ever. The developers have contacted real coaches and playbook experts to ensure formations and strategies are as true-to-life as possible.
“You talk to Anthony [one of the team members working on the game], and I’ll see a play or I’ll see a formation that I haven’t seen before. And I’ll say, ‘Anthony, what’s this?’ Thirty minutes later, he’s given me the full breakdown of the coach that invented it,” one team member says, showing the depth of football knowledge driving the project.
College Football 26 is shaping up to be a landmark release, not just for EA Sports but for the entire world of sports gaming. The title releases on July 10, but pre-ordering the game gives gamers three days of early access.
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