B/R’s Top 25 Players for EA Sports College Football 26
The arrival of EA SPORTS’ College Football 26 is a joyous reminder that football is coming. It’s also a way for desperate CFB fans to immerse themselves in the sport before the actual games commence.
Oh, and we get to debate about ratings, too.
While EA SPORTS has studied up the transfer portal, combed through the latest recruiting rankings and delivered its own player rankings that everyone will undoubtedly agree with, that doesn’t mean we can’t and won’t do the same.
That’s not to take away from the incredible work being done. But let’s just say we see things a little differently here and there.
Without further ado, here’s a look at what our rankings would look like if we were in charge of College Football 26.
Spoiler: we are not.
No. 25-No. 20
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25. Nicholas Singleton (RB, Penn State) 92
24. Issac Brown (RB, Louisville) 92
23. Garrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU) 92
22. Elijah Sarratt (WR, Indiana) 92
21. Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami) 92
If we’re being completely honest, there were a slew of running backs, including Nicholas Singleton’s own teammate, that were close to making the top 25. He and Brown, two of the most explosive offensive players in the sport, round out the top 25.
Elijah Sarratt, who averaged more than 18 yards per catch last season at Indiana, cracks that 25 as well.
And our first quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, also slips in. While the turnovers were certainly a concern, Nussmeier is poised for a monster offensive season with the Tigers.
No. 20-No. 16
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20. Koi Perich (S, Minnesota) 92
19. Chandler Rivers (CB, Duke) 92
18. Sam Leavitt (QB, Arizona State) 92
17. Eli Stowers (TE, Vanderbilt) 93
16. Jake Slaughter (C, Florida) 93
Speaking of quarterbacks, Sam Leavitt cracks our rankings, which feels like a given in our eyes. After a special year at Arizona State, the dual-threat QB, even without his favorite running back, is likely to be significantly better with another offseason.
In the SEC, tight end Eli Stowers, who has a chance to shine for a budding program, cracks the top 20. As does Jake Slaughter, the Florida center who will be one of the key pieces protecting Florida QB DJ Lagway.
Perhaps we’ll see Lagway on these rankings soon enough.
No. 15-No. 11
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15. Ar'maj Reed-Adams (G, Texas A&M) 93
14. Leonard Moore (CB, Notre Dame) 93
13. Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee) 93
12. Spencer Fano (OT, Utah) 94
11. Colin Simmons (LB, Texas) 94
Two elite cornerbacks, Leonard Moore and Jermod McCoy, just missed out on top 10 real estate. Both starred for playoff teams a season ago, and they should do the same exact thing once again.
Up front, we’re showing plenty of love for both Ar'maj Reed-Adams and Spencer Fano—two of the best big men in all of college football.
And we’re also very bluish on young Colin Simmons who shined last season for the Longhorns as a true freshman. As a sophomore, he could reach superstar status in a hurry.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
10. Cade Klubnik (QB, Clemson) 94
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While quarterbacks have historically dominated these rankings over the years, Klubnik is the only football thrower to crack the top 10. (Spoiler Alert.) The fact that he’s even on this list, however, speaks to the dramatic growth he showcased in 2024 along with a sneaky-dominant season.
Clemson’s starting QB entered last fall seemingly inching closer to “bust” status after arriving with 5-star expectations. He responded with more than 3,639 passing yards, 469 rushing yards and 43 total touchdowns.
Although it took time, Klubnik has emerged as perhaps the most dominant threat at the position. And the fact that he can conquer defenses with both his arms and legs makes him that much of a threat.
If the trend continues, Klubnik could be in line for another trip to the College Football Playoff along with a New York City stop along the way. Let the Heisman run commence.
9. Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State) 94
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While college football is chock full of talented wideouts—including a few yet to be named—Arizona State will return one of the nation’s most compelling talents.
Tyson’s tremendous year was cut short before the Big 12 Championship with an injury, but his impact on the Sun Devils’ season was enormous. For the year, Tyson finished with 1,101 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.
It’s also worth noting that in his team’s four final regular season games Tyson had 543 yards receiving and five touchdowns. With his quarterback likely to improve and the offense poised to fly, don’t be shocked when Tyson explodes in 2025.
8. Kadyn Proctor (OT, Alabama) 94
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To say it’s been a wild ride for Alabama’s starting left tackle would be an understatement.
Proctor, who was born in Des Moines, originally committed to Iowa. He then flipped for Alabama, played his freshman season for the Crimson Tide, transferred to Iowa and then transferred back to Alabama, all before his sophomore season. Along the way, Nick Saban retired.
Whew.
Proctor, who stands 6’7” and weighs more than 350 pounds, flashed his potential last year as a sophomore. Now, with two seasons under his belt, Proctor is poised to become the most dominant offensive lineman in the SEC and beyond.
The physical gifts are simply overwhelming, and he has already accumulated two years of playing experience. Having just turned 20 years old, his potential is seemingly limitless.
7. Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) 94
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Let’s start with the play. Yes, THAT play.
Notre Dame’s star running back put on an absolute clinic for much of the postseason, running through the entire Penn State defense and also ripping off a 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana.
Although he battled injuries, Love’s individual excellence lifted him to superstar status.
For the year, Love finished with 1,125 yards rushing, 237 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns. He averaged nearly seven yards per carry and more than eight yards per reception. As a result, his workload is likely to rapidly increase this year.
As a result, Love is the highest ranked running back on this list and deservingly so. And it still feels like so much potential is still untapped.
6. Dylan Stewart (DE, South Carolina) 95
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A 5-star recruit who looked every bit the part, Dylan Stewart looked every bit the part for South Carolina last season. He sacked the quarterback, forced fumbles and had a similar impact to Jadeveon Clowney, another former Gamecock who tormented QBs in college.
While the numbers might be slightly lower than other pass rushers, the young and tools are simply too intoxicating to ignore. If he stays healthy, Stewart will finish the year with double-digit sacks. Book it.
Although the expanded SEC is loaded with fascinating young talent, few in the conference and beyond are as exciting as this one.
5. TJ Parker (DE, Clemson) 95
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Although he has played just two seasons, T.J. Parker has already started accumulating massive amounts of stats and production. The Clemson product has totaled 16 sacks, 32 tackles for loss and a whopping six forced fumbles—all of which came last year.
A massive human capable of quick movement, Parker helped reestablish Clemson as an ACC and College Football Playoff contender in 2025, and it seems likely he’ll continue to stack production this year.
If that production continues, we could be looking at an all-time Clemson talent on the defensive side, with upside still untapped.
4. Anthony Hill Jr. (LB, Texas) 96
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After an impressive freshman debut in 2023, Hill exploded in 2024.
The linebacker finished with 113 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and an interception. He was named a first-team All-American as a result, setting up the prospects of a junior year loaded with potential.
A key cog on a loaded team, especially on the defensive side, Hill has the versatility to do just about anything on the football field. The former 5-star recruit has been a critical piece of the Longhorns’ rebirth, and that theme should carry through at least one more season.
With so many emerging players around him, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Hill’s production and impact take another huge leap upward.
3. Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) 97
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In two years of college football, Caleb Downs has done plenty.
He won a national championship with Ohio State, was named a unanimous All-American as a sophomore and was named the best defensive back in the Big Ten. A year prior, he was named a second-team All-American as a freshman at Alabama.
Two years, two programs, two dominant seasons. Not too shabby.
Standing out at safety can be a difficult assignment, although Downs has done just that. A ball hawk with incredible tackling skills, Downs’ impact on a football game transcends interception totals and other typical defensive stats. (He has those, too.)
Few safeties have ever had the kind of start to their careers that he has. What a start. What a player.
2. Ryan Williams (WR, Alabama) 97
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In the history of this glorious football game, few players 18 years young have ever received this kind of ratings treatment.
Indeed, Ryan Williams is special. He’s also still so young. If you watched a single Alabama game last season, the youth of the team’s star wideout was undoubtedly discussed. (And for good reason.)
Statically, Williams wasn’t totally dominant. He finished the year with less than 900 receiving yards and 10 overall touchdowns. It was the moments and the special catches, however, that really stood out—the kind of plays that captivated the CFB universe.
Despite playing in an offense that struggled at times, Williams excelled. And if Alabama can properly fill its QB vacancy, Williams is likely to explode.
1. Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State) 98
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At just 19 years old, Smith emerged in a way few freshmen ever have, growing from the nation’s No. 1 recruit to the nation’s best wideout in a matter of three months.
Now, he’s our No. 1 rated player, and there really doesn’t feel like much debate about it. After helping guide Ohio State to a national championship, Smith, who scored five touchdowns during the playoff, is poised to somehow… get better?
Given the fact that the wideout averaged more than 17 yards per catch, surpassed more than 1,300 yards receiving and scored 16 touchdowns, that’s a scary thought. And at 6’3” and 215 pounds, Smith’s size and athleticism combined with refined route running will make him an even greater force in years to come.
Next stop, 99.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
