OSU's Jeremiah Smith Makes History, Named to 1st-Ever 99 Club at Launch for EA's CFB 27 Video Game

EA Sports announced Wednesday that Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith will be the first player to ever have a 99 overall rating at launch in the history of its college football video game series when College Football 27 drops next month.

The 20-year-old Smith is preparing to enter his junior season at OSU, and he is widely viewed as the best wideout and one of the best all-around players in college football.

Smith was among the athletes featured on the cover of College Football 26 last year, and he was the highest-rated player at launch for that game as well, coming in at 98 overall.

Then-Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who subsequently went first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL draft, had his rating adjusted to 99 overall in College Football 26 in January after leading the Hoosiers to a national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy:

That placed him above Smith and Miami pass-rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who were both 98 overall, but Smith's 99 overall at launch in College Football 27 represents a new benchmark.

Smith burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2024, finishing with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for a touchdown.

He was named Big Ten Receiver of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and he is a big reason why the Buckeyes won their first national title since 2014.

Smith followed that up with another highly productive season in 2025, recording 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns, plus a rushing touchdown.

He was named Big Ten Receiver of the Year for a second straight season, and he was also a unanimous All-American.

Assuming Smith maintains that level of play and enters the 2027 NFL draft, he is widely expected to be the first non-quarterback off the board and could even be the first wide receiver to go first overall since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.

Before that, college football fans will have the opportunity to dominate the competition with Smith in video form for at least one more year.

College Football 27 will release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on July 9, but those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition or MVP Bundle can begin playing on July 6.