Guessing LSU offensive player ratings in EA College Football 26

The new College Football 26 video game is slated to be released on July 10, introducing a new game with a new crop of talent to LSU and college football fans. EA Sports released the initial trailer and details last week, further ramping up the excitement for the game.

The Playbook is in your hands…Cement your program in the history books.

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LSU fans will be anxious to play with their new team in the game and have already started speculating the top players and who will be the players they need to use to get wins online. Here, we’re going to be taking our shot at guessing what EA Sports will rate LSU’s roster, this time starting with the offense.

Note: These are my guesses as to what EA will rate LSU’s players, not what I would rate them.

Quarterback

Garrett Nussmeier 93, Michael Van Buren 80, Collin Hurley 75, Ju’Juan Johnson 75

I believe I’m being conservative in guessing that the player who is among the top three in Heisman odds right now gets a 93, but there are still people skeptical of Nussmeier’s talent level entering this year and he will certainly have to prove himself in the SEC on a weekly basis. Although not as mobile as most of the other quarterbacks, Nussmeier’s throw power and accuracy should be excellent in this game.

Van Buren was a capable starter at Mississippi State last year as a true freshman and should be in the low 80s off of that alone. AJ Swann was a 78 to start last year just off of SEC experience and Van Buren is a significant upgrade. Hurley and Johnson are second year players that should be a bit higher than what normal SEC freshmen are rated. I’m interested to see Johnson’s speed rating.

Running back

Caden Durham 87, Kaleb Jackson 78, Harlem Berry 78, JT Lindsey 75

Durham is going to be one of the best backs in the SEC next year and I think there’s a chance he is close to 90 rated on the launch. Still, with only 753 yards and six touchdowns last year, I think EA will want a bit more production before getting him to 90 overall.

Jackson had a disappointing season in 2024 with just 150 yards, so it’s uncertain how EA will evaluate the burly back, but generally a high-rated recruit entering his junior year should be in the high 70s. Then you get to the two freshmen. Last year, they started Trey Holly at 75 and Caden Durham at 76, so with Berry being the No. 1 freshman back in the country, he should be nearing 80, while Lindsey is a top 10 back and should be in that 75 range.

Wide receiver

Aaron Anderson 87, Nic Anderson 87, Chris Hilton 85, Barion Brown 85, Zavion Thomas 80, Kyle Parker 80, Destyn Hill 78, Jelani Watkins 75, Kylan Billiot 75, TaRon Francis 72, Phillip Wright 71

This is an interesting group, because there’s uncertainty, yet so much talent. Aaron Anderson had 884 yards and 61 receptions last year, so he’s going to be in the high 80s as a returner, after that, it’s anyone’s guess. Nic Anderson was fantastic in 2023 but didn’t play last year, Hilton was injured for most of last year but should be dynamic in 2025, then Barion Brown has had three solid seasons at Kentucky, but is hoping to break out at LSU. Those are your top four and all should be 85+, but I can’t make the case EA will put any of them in the 90s to start.

As for the rest, Zavion Thomas was an 80 at launch last year and that feels right for him again. Kyle Parker had production before he got injured, while Hill comes over as a sixth year player with some traits. Freshman receivers are usually in the low 70s to start their careers unless they’re top 10 guys.

Tight end

Trey’Dez Green 86, Bauer Sharp 84, Donovan Green 78, JD LaFleur 73

Last year, Mason Taylor started the year at a 90 and was quickly bumped up to 92. This year, there’s ample excitement about the Tigers’ tight ends, but it’s because of the two-headed monster of Trey’Dez Green and Bauer Sharp. Green should be 85+ based off of his high school rating and potential, while Sharp has the production as Oklahoma’s leading receiver last year. Both could move up quickly, but I think this is where EA starts them at entering the year.

Donovan Green is tricky because he hasn’t really played in two years, so it’s probably safe to just put him in the high 70s and call it a day. 

Offensive tackles

Tyree Adams 84, Weston Davis 80, Carius Curne 77, Ethan Calloway 72 , Khayree Lee 70

Adams will be LSU’s best offensive tackle and while he has to prove himself, he’s still going to get a strong rating to start the year based on his expectations. Last year, DJ Chester got an 81 rating and Garrett Dellinger got an 86 rating, so somewhere in there feels right.

Davis and Curne are going to get high ratings despite not having played because of their lofty recruiting rankings. Maybe Davis is a bit higher than this to EA, but I’ll have to see it. Curne getting a 77 means he’s one of the top freshmen in the country, which he should be as a top prospect and someone who had a strong spring. 

Interior offensive line 

Josh Thompson 86, Braelin Moore 84, DJ Chester 79, Coen Echols 77, Solomon Thomas 76, Paul Mubenga 75, Bo Bordelon 74, Ory Williams 72, Tyler Miller 72, Brett Bordelon 68

Thompson is the highest rated transfer offensive lineman LSU has and someone who should be in the 85+ club to start the year as LSU’s starting guard. Moore also has starting experience at the P4 level which EA will view highly. The real questions come with the depth. LSU has a lot of capable players, but Chester was poor in his snaps last year and will have to earn his way back into the 80s, while the rest have to prove themselves. Thomas and Echols are promising underclassmen, so we’ll see what EA does there, but in general, there’s a ton of inexperience here.