Alright, let’s talk about EA Sports teasing College Football 26—yeah, it’s already on the horizon, and they’re dropping hints that have us all buzzing. After the massive win that was College Football 25 last year, EA’s not slowing down. They’re cooking up something fresh for this next installment, and it sounds like they’re ready to pile even more goodness onto our plates. Daryl Holt, one of the big shots at EA Sports, chatted with The Athletic and let slip that there’s still “a lot of meat left on the bone.” Translation? They’ve got big plans brewing.
Holt didn’t spill all the beans—keeps us guessing, doesn’t he?—but he made it clear the team’s been listening. College Football 25 was a smash hit, no question, but it wasn’t perfect. They couldn’t cram everything they wanted into it. Now, with 26, they’re eyeing what fans loved, what they griped about, and what’s still missing. “We release a game, we see what players care about, what they actually play,” Holt said. “Then we tweak, improve, add stuff.” Sounds like a solid game plan—pun intended. As someone who’s been around the block with sports games, I can tell you that’s the kind of feedback loop that keeps a franchise alive.
So, what’s on the wishlist? If you played CFB 25, you probably noticed the Road to Glory mode—y’know, the single-player career thing—felt kinda… meh. Underwhelming’s the word folks threw around. It wasn’t bad, just not the deep, immersive ride we’d hoped for. Bet your bottom dollar that’s one spot they’ll beef up for College Football 26. Fans have been loud about it, and EA’s not deaf. They’re college football nuts themselves, Holt says, so they’re building this for us, the diehards.
Platform talk’s another hot topic. CFB 25 landed on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S—sorry, PC folks, you got left out. Why? Word is, the game’s core crowd is North America-based, and PC launches matter more for global titles. Holt didn’t shut the door, though. “We started with Xbox and PlayStation,” he said, “but we’ll look at other platforms down the road.” So, PC gamers, don’t lose hope—College Football 26 might just make the jump.
Sales-wise, CFB 25 crushed it. No exact numbers from EA, but it snagged the No. 2 spot for 2024’s best-selling games in the US, just behind Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. That’s wild. Holt called it a runaway success, saying it “outperformed all our expectations” and carved out a spot in college football’s cultural vibe. Can’t argue there—felt like everyone and their cousin was playing it last summer.
Now, here’s a curveball for College Football 26: the money side. For 25, over 11,000 student-athletes got $600 and a free game copy to let EA use their likeness—cost the company north of $6 million. Not chump change. Some players scored extra for promo gigs. But for 26, an NIL outfit called Pathway Sports & Entertainment’s shaking things up. They’re pitching $1,500 upfront to players, plus a potential cut of the profits based on sales. EA’s staying mum on that for now, but it’s a bold move. Could mean bigger paydays for the athletes—and maybe a better roster in-game.
So yeah, College Football 26 is shaping up to be a beast. More features, maybe a sharper Road to Glory, possibly a PC drop someday, and a new NIL twist? I’m hyped. EA’s got a hit on their hands already, and they’re not resting on their laurels. Keep your eyes peeled—Holt says “a lot of things” are still coming. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
