EA Sports College Football 26 is here; What South Carolina football fans should know

On Monday, EA Sports College Football 26 became available via early release for those who preordered the game’s deluxe edition. (Full release is Thursday, July 10th.) There are a handful of things South Carolina football fans should know about this year’s version of the game.

USC Player Involvement

As most who follow Gamecock football know, sophomore EDGE Dylan Stewart is a cover athlete on this year’s version of EA Sports’ video game. Though Ohio State and Alabama receivers Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams occupy the cover spots on the standard version, Stewart is one of several players, former players, coaches, and mascots on the game’s deluxe edition.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers is also a featured player. No. 16 has a prominent spot on the Road to Glory selection page, representing former three-star prospects (although On3 had Sellers as a four-star coming out of high school).

While a full list of participating players won’t be available until after at least the first major roster update, running back Rahsul Faison is in the game. While he awaits an NCAA decision on his eligibility this year, the four-star transfer portal ‘back confirmed his virtual involvement.

Though not players, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, defensive coordinator Clayton White, and offensive coordinator Mike Shula’s involvement have been confirmed. This will be the first installment of a college sports game with real-life coaches. Over 300 coaches across the country will be in CFB26.

Gamecock-Related Improvements

Despite the excitement that came with the re-introduction of the best-selling college football game series in 2024, the game wasn’t perfect.

South Carolina fans were not happy with last year’s game’s depiction of the team’s entrance. “2001” was not in CFB25, and when “Sandstorm” played, the animated versions of Gamecock fans inside Williams-Brice Stadium waved black towels instead of white. The same towel-related problem persisted throughout the game.

In College Football 26, however, the developers fixed those issues. Fans at Willy B will use white rally towels, “2001” and “Step to the Rear” are part of South Carolina’s pregame entrance along with Cocky’s Cockaboose emergence, the pregame and post-touchdown light show has been updated, and several other small stadium tweaks have made things more realistic to a gameday experience in Columbia.

When South Carolina runs out of the tunnel, quarterback LaNorris Sellers, defensive back DQ Smith, and head coach Shane Beamer lead the team. The fans boo the opposing team when they run out, as well.

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Notable Player Ratings

With some of the top individual talent in the country returning for South Carolina this fall, it is no surprise that the Gamecocks have several players whose in-game ratings made headlines ahead of its release.

Defensive end Dylan Stewart is among the highest-rated players in EA Sports College Football 26. His 94 rating includes a 91 speed and 96 acceleration. Stewart is tied for seventh among all players and is second among all EDGE rushers.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers earned a 91 overall rating. The Gamecock redshirt sophomore owns an 89 speed, 91 acceleration, and 82 break tackle to go with a 96 throw power, 97 throw on the run, and various accuracy ratings all between 83 and 89. Sellers is tied for 60th among all players and tied for fourth among quarterbacks.

Wide receiver Nyck Harbor isn’t one of EA Sports’ top 100 players. However, he does rank No. 1 in another important in-game factor. Harbor is one of four players with a 99 speed attribute. Two other wide receivers share the perfect speed rating, but at 6-5, he is the only one above 6-1. The All-American track star didn’t run this spring in hopes it pays dividends on the gridiron.

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South Carolina’s Place in the Rankings

In an EA Sports’ official trailer for the game, play-by-play man Chris Fowler called South Carolina the nation’s No. 12 team.

Williams-Brice Stadium made EA’s list of toughest places to play. The Gamecocks’ home venue occupies the No. 16 overall spot in the rankings. That is also good for No. 9 in the SEC.

When comparing total roster talent to other teams in the game, South Carolina is No. 24 nationally. The team’s 82 overall rating is lower than some expected. However, it is worth noting that the rosters could change. In last year’s version of the game, rosters updated multiple times before becoming mostly accurate. Because of that, ratings and rankings are subject to change.

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