EA Sports College Football 26 Predicts the 2025 Season originally appeared on College Football News.
The wait is over—and yes, I had to be early.
I pre-ordered the deluxe edition of “EA Sports College Football 26” and jumped in the second it went live.
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Before even touching Road to Glory or Ultimate Team, I ran a full Dynasty Mode simulation—complete with coaching changes, transfers, and the 16-team College Football Playoff.
This is one of the very first EA CFB26 season sims you’ll see online—maybe the first. And if what played out is even remotely close to what happens this fall, we’re in for chaos.
In case you missed it, Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith are featured on the cover.
Here’s what the game predicts — the Heisman winner, the national champion, the Playoff field and some pretty wild postseason results.
National Champion
Penn State head coach James Franklin.© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Penn State capped off a 15-1 season by dominating Georgia 38-14 in the national title game.
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The Nittany Lions were consistent all year and knocked off Texas in the semifinal to reach the championship stage.
With an elite defense and balanced offense in the sim, Penn State looked like the most complete team from start to finish.
Heisman Winner
Georgia WR Zachariah Branch.© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Zachariah Branch, who is now at Georgia, took home the Heisman Trophy after a monster season in Athens.
He finished with 1,733 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. Other finalists included Byrum Brown from USF, Gunner Stockton from Georgia, Ryan Williams from Alabama, and Romello Brinson from SMU.
Branch’s explosive playmaking gave Georgia a spark all season long.
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Coach of the Year
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. © Joshua l. Jones Athens Banner-Herald USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Kirby Smart earned Coach of the Year honors after leading Georgia to a 14-2 record and a dominant semifinal win over Baylor.
The Bulldogs looked like a machine through most of the year, falling only in the title game.
16-Team Playoff Field
College Football Playoff Trophy.© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
First round highlights included Navy upsetting UCLA, BYU slipping past Duke, Miami knocking off Baylor, and Texas Tech battling past Clemson.
Semifinal Results
Penn State QB Drew Allar.© Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Penn State defeated Texas 35-21.
Georgia took down Baylor 30-20.
Final Takeaway?
No, it’s not a crystal ball. But it’s the most fun simulation we’ve got right now, especially with FPI and other models not fully updated yet.
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And based on these results? If you’re a fan of Penn State or Georgia, you might want to pay attention.
Related: 5 College Football Coaches Who Could Be Fired in 2025
Related: 5 College Football Teams That Could Shock Everyone in 2025
This story was originally reported by College Football News on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.