EA Sports 'College Football 26' predicts the 2025 season
This time around, we're mostly sticking to last year's formula, with the biggest tweak being us running just a single simulated season. It's more in line with the simulations we've run for Madden, NBA 2K and MLB The Show in recent memory, and after seeing the results, it appears as if College Football 26 is more in line with what's reasonably expected for this coming season.
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Here were the parameters for the simulation:
One season in Dynasty mode was simulated, with pauses before the Bowl Game schedule and after the national title game for data collecting. We needed to select a team at random and received Kansas State for the simulation.
Quarters were set to 15 minutes, to generate the most realistic statistics possible.
Recruiting and other settings were set to "simple," essentially fully automating the experience.
With all that out of the way, let's fire up the fight songs and jump into what everyone is really here for — the results!
Screenshot from EA Sports College Football 26. (Credit: EA Sports)
Power conference champions
Things were fairly straightforward when it came to the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC, with two repeat champions predicted for the 2025 season. Clemson and Oregon each won their respective conferences with matching 12-1 records, while Florida took home the SEC title and Texas Tech captured the Big 12 championship for the first time in school history. The most interesting tidbit came from the Big Ten, where Penn State was unbeaten and actually ranked No. 1 heading into the championship game against Oregon, but much like in reality in 2024, the Ducks defeated the Nittany Lions, 38-35, to seize the top seed in the CFP.
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The CFP field, for now
Although uncertainty surrounds the future of the College Football Playoff and its expansion, in "College Football 26" we're still operating with the 12-team field, including four first-round byes. The byes went to Oregon, Clemson, Florida and Penn State, meaning Big 12 champion Texas Tech had to play in the first round. Of the overall field, the biggest surprises came as Mountain West champion Boise State and Ole Miss advanced to the semifinals as the No. 12 and No. 6 seeds, respectively. The Rebels' run didn't stop in the Fiesta Bowl, as they took down Clemson to make the national championship game.
Here's a look at the full field and the conference breakdown:
SEC (5) — Florida, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn
Big Ten (3) — Oregon, USC, Penn State
ACC (2) — Clemson, Miami
Big 12 — Texas Tech
Mountain West — Boise State
Here's the full 12-team CFP field from the Yahoo Sports simulation. (Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports)
Heisman Trophy winner
Last year, it was all about the quarterbacks as Ohio State's Will Howard and Georgia's Carson Beck won in the EA Sports simulations. With Howard in the NFL and Beck playing in Miami, things shook out a bit differently in "College Football 26." Despite defending-champion Ohio State not making the CFP, star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had a monster campaign, leading the nation in receptions (112) and yards (1,501) while adding 12 TDs to his résumé. Smith, who comes into the season with the third-shortest odds to win the award, would be the first true WR since DeVonta Smith in 2020 and the first Buckeye since Troy Smith in 2006 to win the Heisman.
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What about the other hardware?
Smith added the Maxwell, Walter Camp and Fred Biletnikoff awards to his impressive haul in "College Football 26," but he wasn't the only multiple-trophy winner from our simulation. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik — another Heisman hopeful — finished with a nation-leading 39 TDs and 4,457 yards and won the Johnny Unitas and Davey O'Brien awards. Klubnik's success and Clemson's ACC win was enough to also earn Dabo Swinney the Bear Bryant Award.
On the defensive side, Miami lineman Rueben Bain Jr. was an absolute menace, leading the nation with 19 sacks and 32 tackles for loss. Bain Jr. took home the Bronco Nagurski, Chuck Bednarik and Lombardi awards.
How will Arch Manning fare this season as the full-time starter for the Texas Longhorns? (CFP/Getty Images)
(CFP via Getty Images)
All eyes on Arch
Perhaps the biggest quarterback storyline entering the season will be Arch Manning finally getting a chance to lead the Longhorns after sitting behind Quinn Ewers for two seasons. Manning, the Heisman Trophy favorite and potential first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, had a respectable season for Texas, finishing with 3,738 yards, 32 TDs, 7 INTs and a 69% completion percentage. Manning was the only player to take a snap for Steve Sarkisian's squad in the simulation.
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Chapel Bill's first season at UNC
Much like in previous Madden games, Bill Belichick did not lend his likeness to EA Sports for inclusion in "College Football 26." That said, we did take a close look at how North Carolina did in under Belichick. In his inaugural campaign, Belichick did bring some improvement to the Tar Heels, finishing 8-5 (4-4 ACC) and ending a five-year winless streak with a 45-24 bowl game victory over Ball State. Belichick started and finished hot, bookending the season with identical three-game winning streaks.
Rivalry games
Few of these were truly consequential when it came to the traditional college football rivalry games, with the Iron Bowl being the only one featuring two CFP teams. Here's how they all played out:
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Red River Rivalry (Week 7) — No. 11 Oklahoma 22, No. 13 Texas 21
USC vs, Notre Dame (Week 8) — No. 5 Trojans 27, No. 12 Fighting Irish 17
Iron Bowl (Week 14) — No. 7 Auburn 24, No. 9 Alabama 20
Ohio State vs. Michigan (Week 14) — No. 23 Ohio State 55, Michigan 52
Army vs. Navy (Week 15) — Navy 23, Army 0
And the big winner is...
We already know Ole Miss made a Cinderella run to the Natty to face No. 1 Oregon, but could the Rebels pull off the unthinkable?
No.
For the second year in a row, Oregon was ultimately crowned the national champion of the "College Football 26" simulation. Powered by impressive performances from QB Dante Moore (365 yards, 3 TDs), RB Makhi Hughes (84 yards, 2 TDs) and WR Malik Benson (98 yards, 3 TDs), the Ducks won 38-24 for what would be the first national championship in the program's history.
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Faurot Field, Missouri Several years ago, then-Missouri coach Barry Odom bought thousands of tickets and gave them away free to coax fans into the stadium. Fans will buy their own tickets, and Faurot perks up – if the Tigers are good. Missouri has won nearly 60% of its home conference games since joining the SEC. 12. Davis Wade Stadium, Mississippi State When Mississippi State fans get their cowbells clanging at full force, it sounds like a swarm of locusts has descended upon the stadium, allowing a venue with a capacity of 60,311 to buzz beyond its size. 13. Razorback Stadium, Arkansas No school ever embraced being the 'Pigs' quite like Arkansas, and the 'Calling of the Hogs' ranks among the SEC's neater traditions. Fans consistently turn out, and yet Arkansas' SEC home record remains too bleak. Advertisement 14. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Mississippi No SEC tour can be deemed complete without sipping a tailgate drink in The Grove. 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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SEC football stadiums rankings: Swamp at Florida bests Tiger Stadium
