A look at Iowa rankings in EA Sports College Football 26

USA Today

5 days ago

Last year, EA Sports brought the thrills of college football back to video game consoles with the release of EA Sports College Football 25. The game was an immense hit, seeing more than 2.8 million players engaged with the game in the first week. By December, it became the best-selling sports video game of all time in the United States.
When a game is so successful, a sequel is a given and that's exactly what college football fans are getting with EA Sports College Football 26 which is set to release on July 10.
EA Sports has released their Top 25 rankings for a variety of categories and Iowa is featured on multiple lists. Where do the Hawkeyes rank in these different categories? Let's take a look.
What are Iowa's offense and defense ratings in College Football 26?
To no one's surprise, Iowa's defense is ranked higher than the offense in this years game. The Hawkeye defense is ranked in the Top 25 defenses in the entire game, coming in with an 84 overall rating. They have the same defensive rating as South Carolina, Arizona State and Florida. For comparison, Iowa had the 13th highest rated defense in College Football 25, at an 88 overall. Following the departures of Jay Higgins, Nick Jackson and Sebastian Castro, it's understandable why EA is a little lower on the Hawk defense this year.
On the offensive side of the ball, Iowa is nowhere to be found in the Top 25, which makes sense with Kaleb Johnson gone. It's rumored that Iowa will have an 80 overall offense, but nothing is officially confirmed by EA Sports. The Hawks will look to increase that rating with an improved offensive season in 2025.
What does EA Sports think of Kinnick Stadium?
Most fans know that Kinnick Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in the country, with numerous top teams seeing National Championship hopes die at Kinnick over the years (Just ask Ohio State, Michigan or Penn State fans). But what does EA Sports think?
They released the top 25 hardest places to play in College Football 26 and Kinnick Stadium made the list, coming in at 19th. They're right behind Husky Stadium home of the Washington Huskies, and directly ahead of Rice-Eccles Stadium, home of the Utah Utes. In total, eight Big Ten stadiums are represented on the list: Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington and Michigan State.
Who are Iowa's highest rated players in the game?
In another ranking released before the game drops, EA Sports named the top 100 players in the game by rating. Iowa had two players make that list.
Both Gennings Dunker and Aaron Graves snuck into the back end of the Top 100 at 91 overall ratings. Dunker was an AP second-team All-Big Ten player last season and was named to Phil Steele's preseason first-team All-Big Ten squad for the 2025 season. He started 11 games at right tackle for the Hawks last season.
Graves was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten player last season after posting six sacks, eight tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. Similar to Dunker, he was named to Phil Steele's preseason first-team All-Big Ten squad for 2025. He was also named to the Lott Trophy preseason Award watch list.
While not making the top 100 overall players, Logan Jones, Xavier Nwankpa and Beau Stephens among others will probably be close to a 90 overall rating. Hawkeye fans can pick up the game and play with the Hawks on July 10.
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