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College Football 26 Early Access Exposes Missing Big-Name Coaches and Contested Player Ratings

Fans are criticizing EA’s new licensing model after discovering fictional stand-ins for two high-profile coaches ahead of the game’s full launch.

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Overview

  • EA Sports granted Deluxe Edition early access on July 7, with a standard release slated for July 10, and players immediately noted that marquee coaches Deion Sanders and Bill Belichick were missing.
  • Sanders and Belichick opted out of EA’s individual licensing agreements, resulting in fictional coaches Kirk Patrick and Hector Luna taking their places in Dynasty Mode.
  • Colorado receivers Omarion Miller and Dre’lon Miller received 79 overall ratings, prompting Deion Sanders Jr. on Instagram to protest and SB Nation to argue their potential warrants mid-80s grades.
  • Defensive back Preston Hodge was misclassified as an 82-rated strong safety despite playing nickel corner, drawing criticism over positional accuracy.
  • An unofficial Elite College Football leak lists quarterback overalls placing Cade Klubnik at 92, Carson Beck and Sam Leavitt at 91, Arch Manning and DJ Lagway at 90, and Bryce Underwood at 81.