In this edition of the TGT Podcast, cdj and gschwendt break down all the latest EA SPORTS College Football 26 news: Release date, pre-order bonuses, begin as a HS recruit in Road to Glory, Metallica, Lowe's, & more.

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Coinciding with day one of the 2025 NFL Draft, EA SPORTS has announced that pre-orders of the MVP Bundle (College Football 26 & Madden NFL 26) are now available. As part of this reveal, College Football 26's release date is now known: July 10 worldwide, July 7 for Deluxe Edition owners.

The announcement was spearheaded by a trailer video entitled 'The Call,' showcasing a player going from high school recruit to NFL legend, implying the ability to take your Road to Glory player into Madden. The full reveal for College Football 26 will take place in May.

While there are no gameplay scenes in the trailer, a possible look at the new CFB 26 scorebug is shown with a match-up between Delaware (new to FBS this season) and Texas.


Pre-order bonuses for each version of the game were also announced. Continue on to watch 'The Call' and to see the pre-order bonuses by game version. ...

On their X account, EA SPORTS College Football has announced a partnership with the band Metallica. One college marching band will be selected to record the College Football Theme Song and also a Metallica song for a future edition of the game. The winner will be selected as part of the For Whom the Band Tolls! competition which runs through November 1, 2025 meaning the recording(s) will likely not be included until CFB 27.

The partnership lends strong credence towards Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' being included in CFB as part of Virginia Tech's iconic entrance, a longtime popular community request. Metallica has long been considered an expensive, if not rare, license to acquire. 'Enter Sandman' has been used in marketing for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and for Ford's F-150 Raptor.

Coincidentally, Metallica's 2025 tour will be at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium on May 7; perhaps a perfect date for a reveal trailer featuring 'Enter Sandman' (if included) or for EA to get tour footage for an upcoming trailer from VT's home stadium. ...

Lowe's has announced a collaboration with EA SPORTS that will see the company featured in College Football 26, Madden NFL 26, and EA SPORTS FC 26.

Via press release: In EA SPORTS College Football 26, Lowe's will be featured on the broadcast overlay of the popular Stadium Pulse placement. The Stadium Pulse dynamically showcases and builds crowd excitement as gameplay improves, drawing meaningful parallels to the passion homeowners feel when enhancing their own spaces with Lowe's.

Some in the community have taken this partnership to imply that College Gameday will not be in College Football 26 since its corporate sponsor is Home Depot, a direct competitor of Lowe's.

Read the full press release here. ...

In this edition of the TGT Podcast, cdj and gschwendt talk about the EA SPORTS College Football 26 cover shoot leaks, who many have leaked it, increased player payments in CFB 26, when fans can expect more CFB 26 info, and more.

Follow the link to watch the Video Podcast and share your thoughts on the show along with future topics.

The Gaming Tailgate Podcast is also available on YouTube Music, Spotify, iTunes, and anywhere you listen to podcasts. ...

First reported by The Athletic, EA SPORTS will pay players $1,500 plus a copy of the game for them to appear in College Football 26. Players were paid $600 and a copy of the game to be in College Football 25.

An increase in pay was considered possibly, if not likely, following the massive success of CFB 25. This amount also matches what Pathway Sports and Entertainment - a new company looking to ne involved with player negotiations in video games - promised to pay players who sign with them. However, OneTeam Partners has an exclusive deal with players for 25 & 26, so Pathway will not be involved in talks until College Football 27. Players who have signed with them will get the $1,500 from EA for being in CFB 26 and the $1,500 for being with Pathway. ...

Via tubbycfb (IG) by way of On3, we have a purported first look at the Deluxe Edition cover of College Football 26.

On Wednesday, current collegiate players, past players, current coaches, and mascots were at the Rose Bowl for a CFB 26 photoshoot according to Peke Nakos of On3.

Courtesy On3: Sources told On3 that Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and South Carolina EDGE Dylan Stewart were all in attendance.

EA College Football plans to release multiple covers in 2026, sources said, explaining why so many athletes were in Pasadena. That will also reportedly include a coaches’ cover, with Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Penn State’s James Franklin, Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham participating.

A legends cover is reportedly in the works, too, with former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow participating in the photoshoot.

The inclusion of current coaches is noteworthy as it strongly implies that at least some real-life coaches may be appearing in the title, a first for the franchise. ...

In this edition of the TGT Podcast, cdj and gschwendt discuss EA SPORTS College Football 26 being announced. Why so early?

Also:

• CFB 26 Director asks for community feedback regarding celebrations in the game.
• Matt Brown strikes again; FOIA requests show what EA is asking from schools.
• Pathway Sports and Entertainment hopes to join the NIL fray.
• MLB The Show 25 adds eight college teams to Road to the Show.

Follow the link to watch the Video Podcast and share your thoughts on the show along with future topics. ...