After the massive success of College Football 25, EA officially announced the release of College Football 26. This new installment in the College Football series is set to release on July 10, 2025.
If you’re planning to play the game on release day and wondering if it will be available on EA Play, the answer is yes. EA Play Members will receive an Early Access Trial starting July 7, 2025.
What Can EA Play Members Expect?
EA Play continues to offer value for sports gaming fans. EA Play is available for just $5.99 USD a month, and members get several benefits when it comes to new releases.
For College Football 26, EA Play members will get a 10% off their digital pre-order, College Football Ultimate Team Packs, and more. They can also claim a monthly Ultimate Team Pack for the first 6 months. Just like with College Football 25, members will get a 10-hour trial that starts on July 7, giving them three days of early access before the standard July 10 release.
EA has a consistent pattern with their sports titles. Madden 25 entered the Play List starting February 6, 2025, giving EA Play members unlimited access about six months after launch. This suggests College Football 26 could follow a similar timeline and join EA Play’s full library in early 2026.
EA Sports officially revealed College Football 26 in late April 2025. The game launches on July 10, 2025, for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition can dive in up to three days early, starting on July 7. Unlike some other EA Sports titles, the game is skipping PC and Switch 2 for the time being.
What’s New in College Football 26?
EA SPORTS College Football 26 delivers more than 2,700 new plays, thousands of real college athletes, and authentic coaching styles from more than 300 real-world coaches.
The game expands the Road to Glory mode by including high school football, letting players experience their journey from high school recruit all the way to the NFL.
One interesting detail about the game’s development involves a partnership with Lowe’s home improvement stores. Lowe’s will be featured on the broadcast overlay of the popular Stadium Pulse placement in College Football 26. The Stadium Pulse feature dynamically showcases crowd excitement as gameplay improves.
The partnership extends beyond College Football. Lowe’s branding will also appear in Ultimate Team modes for EA Sports FC and Madden. They’re planning a real-world “On the Road” gaming tour for college football and NFL fans, with more details coming later this year.
Will College Football 26 Match Last Year’s Success?
College Football 25 was a monster hit in 2024. College Football 25 was the second-highest selling game last year in the States, surpassed only by Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The game even was the highest-selling game on Xbox platforms and became the best-selling sports game in U.S. history.
Fans waited over a decade for College Football 25 after the last game in 2013. That built-up anticipation drove incredible sales, which means expectations for College Football 26 are sky-high. The challenge for EA Sports will be maintaining that momentum without the novelty factor of being the first college football game in 11 years.
For now, EA Play looks like a solid option for trying out College Football 26. With the 10-hour trial starting July 7 and the full game potentially joining the EA Play library in early 2026, subscribers have multiple ways to experience the latest college football action.
As summer approaches, EA will likely reveal more gameplay details and features that could make this year’s game another touchdown for the franchise.
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