Jeremiah Smith Reigns as the Outstanding player in EA Sports College Football 26
Pernithia Galnith 
EA Sports’ College Football 26 is the second year that the company has released its highly anticipated video game. Before Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals became mainstream in collegiate athletics, companies like EA were unable to continue their successful NCAA Football series.
NCAA Football 14 was the final edition of EA Sports’ college football video game for a full decade, until the return of College Football 25 last summer. Now, College Football 26 has been released, with several players ranked 95 overall or better.
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In College Football 26, six players sit atop the overall ratings metric. The top two are both on the Ohio State Buckeyes roster, led by sophomore WR Jeremiah Smith.
Smith is the only player ranked 98 overall in College Football 26. The freshman wideout dominated competition en route to the Buckeyes’ National Championship title over Notre Dame, finishing with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in 16 games played.
Behind Smith is Ohio State S Caleb Downs. The junior was an All-American in 2024 after transferring from Alabama to join the Buckeyes, logging 82 tackles, eight TFLs, six pass deflections, and two interceptions.
Ohio State’s dynamic safety also recorded a punt return for a touchdown on special teams. He’s the only player in College Football 26 with a 96 overall rating.
There are four players ranked 95 overall, including two on defense. University of Texas MLB Anthony Hill Jr. is one of them.
Hill logged a whopping 17 TFLs for the Longhorns as a sophomore in 2024. He also recorded 113 tackles, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and an interception. He’s the heartbeat of Texas’ stout defense, which finished 2024 ranked third in points allowed per game.
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love is the next player to use in College Football 26. He’s a 95 overall, with a 95 speed rating and 93 agility rating. The Fighting Irish offense goes through Love, who blends his power and speed into an unstoppable force behind a great offensive line unit.
There’s another young wide receiver who dazzled during his freshman campaign in 2024. Alabama WR Ryan Miller made huge plays for the Crimson Tide in clutch moments, finishing last season with 48 receptions for 865 yards and 10 scrimmage touchdowns. Williams is the only player with a 96 speed rating in College Football 26.
Clemson LE T.J. Parker is the final player with a 95 overall rating in this year’s College Football 26 video game from EA Sports. Parker forced six fumbles in 2024 and totaled 57 tackles, 20 TFLs, and 11 sacks off the edge for the Tigers.
If you’re looking for the best players to use on offense in College Football 26, wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams are the clear-cut favorites. RB Jeremiyah Love is the top running back, while safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher T.J. Parker rank the highest overall on defense.
