Moments after then-Missouri State athletic director Kyle Moats announced in May 2024 that the Bears would transiton to the Football Bowl Subdivision, fans began to envision the Plaster Stadium aesthetic on the most modern XBox and PlayStation consoles.
It was months before EA Sports brought back its popular college football game after an 11-year hiatus, NCAA Football 25, which was released last summer and reportedly made $500 million in sales. FBS status would mean Missouri State would be featured in the highly anticipated 2026 version and help jolt the Springfield school’s national profile.
That time has come.
Fans who purchased the deluxe package pre-order will receive the game on Monday, July 7, before its regular July 10 release date.
EA Sports recently released NCAA 26 to select online influencers with robust followings to help promote the game leading up its release. Missouri State — one of 136 teams in the game — was shown, albeit briefly, in some of the YouTube streamed videos.
Spruce, an video game influencer, posted a video that included the player/stadium intros for all 136 FBS teams in the game, including Missouri State’s (below).
🎮 🐻 Missouri State fans will appreciate this one. Full stadium intro. pic.twitter.com/baCzBZst4F
— Ryan W. Collingwood (@rwcollingwood) July 4, 2025
Last year, Missouri State said it sent thousands of photos of Plaster Stadium and its dimensions to EA Sports designers, including nearby campus buildings, the distinct north end zone fence and even the parking lot on Grant Avenue.
MSU athletic director Patrick Ransdell, now in his 10th month on the job, is impressed with the detail involving Missouri State in what he’s seen in snippets leading up to release.
“We are excited to have Plaster Stadium as a venue that any college football fan can play!” Ransdell said in a text message to the Springfield Daily Citizen. “This only exposes more people to this amazing campus and institution. I know I can’t wait to play it.”
Another popular video game influencer, Bordeaux, showcased the game play and played a season as Ball State, which faced the Bears in Springfield in the game (below).
Here’s what Plaster Stadium is going to look like in NCAA 26, per @bordeauxyoutube review (He’s playing *against* MoState here and gives local @throwedrolls a shout).
See the rest of his video lengthy review and game play here: https://t.co/Y4TbVrI1QI @SSN_MoState pic.twitter.com/TSR8uT6Cx6
— Ryan W. Collingwood (@rwcollingwood) July 3, 2025
Former Missouri State quarterback and All-American DeAndre Smith, now an assistant coach with the Indianapolis Colts, is also excited for the release.
“Man, that’s awesome!,” Smith, whose jersey is retired at MSU, told the Daily Citizen after seeing a snippet of the Bears in the game that featured a Conference USA tilt against Lousiana Tech at a packed Plaster Stadium. “I wish I could’ve played in that kind of environment in that conference.”
The comprehensive game features several modes, including “Dynasty”, where NCAA 26 players can recruit from the transfer portal, set up recruiting trips, manage their coaching staff, implement schemes and more. The mode “Road to Glory” allowed players to start off a high school recruit who works their way up the NCAA football rungs.
After a reported 2.2 million copies of the game were sold last year, thousands of individual players who opt into the game (allowing their name, image and likeness) were given $1,500 each according to Sports Illustrated.
Coaches and top assistants are also in the game, including Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard, offensive coordinator Nick Petrino and defensive coordinator L.D. Scott, as well as their preferred schemes.
Best trio in the game 😎🔥
Catch Coach Ryan Beard, Coach Nick Petrino and Coach L.D. Scott in #CFB26 !!
Coming 07.10.2025 🐻💪#OutHitOutHustle | #ProveIt pic.twitter.com/DcTIeRIDLX
— Missouri State Football (@MoStateFootball) May 30, 2025
Many MSU players appear to have opted into the game. EA Sports released its player rankings, which will dictate their ability in the game.
Among the highest-rated MSU players was Florida International transfer running back Shomari Lawrence (81), Oregon State transfer defensive end DJ Wesolak (80) and quarterback Jacob Clark (78), one of the best at his position in the FCS a year ago when he led the Bears to a No. 23 final coaches poll ranking.
The ratings are in… 👀💪#OutHitOutHustle | #ProveIt pic.twitter.com/YsBx478dYn
— Missouri State Football (@MoStateFootball) July 2, 2025
The game’s two highest-rated players are Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (98) and Alabama receiver Ryan Williams (95).
Ryan Collingwood covers college and high school sports in the Springfield metropolitan area for the Daily Citizen. Have a story idea or gripe? Send an email to rcollingwood@sgfcitizen.org, call or 417-837-3660, or follow Ryan on social media at X.com/rwcollingwood. More by Ryan Collingwood
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