EA Sports Announces Annual Release Schedule for College Football Video Game

Following the monumental success of College Football 25, which exceeded fan expectations and set numerous sales records, EA Sports has announced that they will maintain an annual release schedule for their collegiate football titles. This decision aligns with the industry trend commonly seen with sports simulation games.

The launch of College Football 25 marked a significant milestone, representing the franchise’s return after an 11-year hiatus. The series had been put on hold post NCAA Football 14 due to legal complications regarding the utilization of the names and likenesses of unpaid student-athletes.

The anticipation surrounding its comeback proved fruitful, as College Football 25 became the best-selling sports video game in U.S. history as of December 2024. This phenomenal triumph has paved the way for EA Sports to aim for similar success with the upcoming title, College Football 26.

Announcement of College Football 26

EA Sports has officially revealed that College Football 26 is slated for release this summer. As a point of reference, the previous installment debuted on July 19. While no specific date is confirmed yet, EA is known for consistent release schedules, indicating that a summer launch is highly plausible.

The company’s other franchise, EA FC, showcases this trend; for example, EA FC 24 was released on September 22, followed by EA FC 25 on the 27th. This pattern establishes a robust expectation among fans.

Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding College Football 25, dedicated fans have communicated various desires for improvements in the upcoming release. Below are some of the features they are most eager to see:

We said this place would be full again – thanks to our players, athletes, and fans for filling the house with us. Let’s keep that kick off energy going ‘til College Football 26 drops this summer 😉 pic.twitter.com/6lbfS1zAsd

— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) January 16, 2025

Players have suggested a return to fan-favorite features, such as incorporating FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) and high school teams for the ‘Road to Glory’ mode, reminiscent of NCAA 14. One player expressed a strong preference for a stadium builder for current schools, as well as a revisitation of how teams are organized, particularly concerning Group of Five (G5) and Power Five (P5) schools.

Fans have also voiced their wish for the reintroduction of the trophy case feature from NCAA 14, which documented all the titles and statistics from previous Dynasty seasons. The absence of this tracking in College Football 25 has been met with disappointment; one user lamented, “Please add a trophy case and record stats for each year of a dynasty, I hate that they don’t save that.”

While EA has issued updates aimed at addressing sim logic and scheduling shortcomings in College Football 25, players continue to advocate for more extensive adjustments to the Dynasty mode. As one commenter noted, “Can you please make it so scheduling in an online dynasty is normal? I can’t even make a custom schedule.”

The ‘Road to Glory’ mode faced scrutiny as well, described by some fans as “disappointing”due to issues with the upgrade system, limited play selection, and erratic substitutions. Nevertheless, the general comeback of the series has excited the fanbase, who eagerly await what College Football 26 has to offer.

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