EA Sports on Monday opened early access to “College Football 26,” allowing customers who pre-ordered the $99.99 Deluxe Edition or the $149.99 MVP Bundle—which also includes “Madden 26”—to begin playing at noon Eastern. The standard edition of the college-football simulation will be released widely on July 10. The title is available exclusively on current-generation consoles—PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S—with no version planned for PC, Nintendo Switch or previous-generation systems. A standard copy costs $69.99, while subscribers to EA Play receive a time-limited trial before purchase. Building on last year’s relaunch of the franchise, the 2025 installment introduces more than 2,800 additional plays, refined quarterback and animation systems, and for the first time the likenesses of real-life college coaches. Dynasty mode gains a revamped transfer portal that adds dynamic deal-breakers to player recruitment, and Road to Glory now begins with a playable high-school segment. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith headlines the initial player ratings at 98 overall, while teammate and safety Caleb Downs tops the defensive list at 96 overall. Alabama enters the game with the highest team rating at 89.