Latest news with #NCAAFootball
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Texas A&M football coaches will be included in College Football 26
Texas A&M football coaches will be included in College Football 26 After 11 years, the massive fan base of the former NCAA Football video game franchise disappeared due to various issues related to what we now call Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). However, during the summer of 2025, EA Sports released its first installment since 2013, renamed College Football 25. Selling millions of copies since its July release, the franchise is back in complete form, as College Football 26 looks to improve in several areas and will now include the likenesses of several high-profile coaches, including Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, offensive coordinator Collin Klein, and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. This is no surprise given the importance of the 2025 season for the Maroon & White. Thanks to GigEm247's Carter Karels, here's how EA Sports is incorporating the likenesses of over 300 coaches to enhance the game plan from a realistic standpoint. "EA Sports released its official reveal trailer for the game Thursday and announced more than 300 current college football coaches – including assistants – agreed to have their likeness featured in addition to various players. It will mark the first time the game has ever incorporated real-life coaches in that way." Within the game, coaches who agreed to participate will be seen on the sideline with playbooks highly similar to the scheme for each team, and in Dynasty mode, coaches can be selected to lead a specific program, which is another exciting feature that will breed plenty of creativity for longtime users of the game. College Football 26 will be released worldwide on Thursday, July 10. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Who are the top 10 NCAA Football cover athletes of all-time?
EA Sports brought back its college football video game series in 2024, creating a lot of buzz and excitement. Just as big as the actual game itself, though, is finding out which players will get to be on the cover of the latest edition of the game. For the second year in a row, EA opted to have current college stars appear on the cover of the "College Football" video game. It announced that Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams will appear on the standard version of "College Football 26." As Smith and Williams are coming off strong freshmen seasons, it's too early to debate whether they're among the best players to ever appear on the cover of one of EA Sports' college football video games. But we still determined the top 10 players to ever appear on the cover of one of the college football video games. 10 best NCAA Football cover athletes of all-time 10. Michigan WR Desmond Howard (NCAA Football 06) Well over a decade after his career at Michigan ended, Howard got the opportunity to grace the cover of "NCAA Football 2006." The former Wolverines wide receiver was one of the most explosive players in the sport during the early 1990s, putting up a season for the ages in 1991. He recorded 61 receptions for 950 yards and an FBS-leading 19 touchdowns that year, adding two rushing scores and two return touchdowns. One of those return touchdowns was arguably one of the most iconic plays in the history of the sport, with Howard returning a punt for a touchdown before striking the Heisman pose in Michigan's win over Ohio State that year. That pose also made its way into the game, with users being able to strike the Heisman after scoring a touchdown. 9. Florida QB Danny Wuerffel (NCAA Football 98) Wuerffel was arguably the best quarterback in the nation in the mid-90s, winning the Davey O'Brien Award in back-to-back seasons (1995, 1996). In the latter of those two seasons, Wuerffel threw for an impressive 3,625 yards, 39 touchdowns and 13 interceptions to win the Heisman. He also quarterbacked Florida to a national championship that year, avenging the Gators' only loss when he threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-20 win over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. 8. Alabama RB Mark Ingram II (NCAA Football 12) Surprisingly, Ingram became the first Alabama player to win the Heisman when he did so in 2009. That year, Ingram ran for an SEC-leading 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns, with 116 of those yards and two of those touchdowns coming in Alabama's national championship game victory over Texas. Ingram wasn't as dominant in 2010, but he was still highly effective as he rushed for 875 yards and 13 touchdowns in 11 games. 7. Baylor QB Robert Griffin III (NCAA Football 13) Griffin emerged as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in college football history during his four-year stint at Baylor (2008-11), consistently making high-level plays as a passer and runner. A few years after winning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2008), Griffin had a season for the ages in 2011. He threw for 4,293 yards, 37 touchdowns and six interceptions to go with 699 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns that year, taking Baylor to new heights as he led the Bears to a 10-3 record. He won the Heisman as a result. 6. Texas RB Ricky Williams (NCAA Football 2000) There was a reason why Mike Ditka wanted the New Orleans Saints to trade a whole draft class worth of picks (and then some) for Williams in 1999. Williams was one of the best running backs in the nation during the late 1990s, rushing for at least 1,000 yards in all four seasons he was at Texas. In those last two years, Williams scored a combined 55 touchdowns and put up over 1,800 rushing yards in each season. He ran for 2,327 yards on six yards per carry and 29 touchdowns in 1998, winning the Heisman and his second straight Doak Walker Award that year. 5. Michigan CB Charles Woodson (NCAA Football 99) A few years after Desmond Howard's memorable run to a Heisman, Woodson had a similar campaign in 1997. Widely viewed as the nation's top corner, Woodson had seven interceptions that season. But he also contributed as a receiver (11 receptions, 231 yards, two touchdowns) and a returner (one punt return touchdown) that year, helping him win the Heisman Trophy over Peyton Manning, Ryan Leaf and Randy Moss in one of the most memorable Heisman races of all time. Woodson also helped Michigan win the national championship that year, and recorded a pivotal red zone interception in its Rose Bowl victory over Washington State. 4. Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter (College Football 25) Nearly 30 years after Woodson showcased his talents on both sides of the ball, Hunter took two-way stardom to another level. After an injury-plagued freshman season at Jackson State in 2022, Hunter instantly became one of the nation's best wide receivers and cornerbacks when he transferred to Colorado in 2023. He recorded 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns to go with three interceptions in nine games that year. This past season, after becoming one of the first three active college players to appear on the cover of the video game, Hunter arguably had the best season for a non-quarterback or running back in college football history. The two-way star played the vast majority of Colorado's snaps from scrimmage in 2024, recording 1,360 of them before Colorado's bowl game. Hunter didn't just play often, but also put up elite production on both sides of the ball. He recorded 94 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns to go with a rushing score over the course of the season, including Colorado's bowl game. Defensively, Hunter had 35 total tackles, 11 passes defended, four interceptions and a forced fumble. While those stats might not be eye-popping, quarterbacks didn't throw Hunter's way much. He allowed 22 receptions on 40 targets for just 212 yards and a touchdown, per Pro Football Focus. 3. USC RB Reggie Bush (NCAA Football 07) If there were any one player who was made for a video game, the USC iteration of Bush might have fit that bill. Bush used his speed to make electric plays throughout the course of his three years at Southern California, helping the Trojans win a national championship in his first two seasons. In his third, Bush had one of the best seasons ever for a running back. He rushed for 1,740 yards on 8.7 yards per carry and 16 touchdowns to go with 37 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns. While USC fell just short of a three-peat that year, Bush won the Heisman. 2. Florida QB Tim Tebow (NCAA Football 2011) You could make the case that Tebow had the best overall career of any player in college football history. He was a two-time national champion, going 34-6 as a starter. He won the Heisman in 2007 after throwing for 3,286 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions to go with 895 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. He won the Maxwell Award for a second straight season in 2008, scoring 42 total touchdowns en route to winning a national championship. He held five NCAA and 14 SEC records by the time he left Florida at the end of 2009. 1. Oklahoma State RB Barry Sanders (NCAA Football 13) While Tebow might have the greatest career, Sanders might have the best season in the history of the sport. His 1988 campaign was one for the ages. The then-Oklahoma State running back rushed for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in his final season at Stillwater, which remain NCAA records. He also did it while averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Even more impressive about Sanders' 1988 season is that he put up those numbers in just 11 games – at the time, the NCAA didn't count stats from bowl games in its official records. Sanders rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns in Oklahoma State's bowl win that year, giving him 2,850 yards and 42 touchdowns on the season. So, it makes sense why EA Sports allowed Sanders to grace the cover of a video game over two decades after his final college game. Honorable mention USC QB Carson Palmer (NCAA Football 2004) Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree (NCAA Football 2010) Pitt WR Larry Fitzgerald (NCAA 2005) Arkansas RB Darren McFadden (NCAA Football 2009) Nebraska QB Tommie Frazier (College Football USA 1997) Check out all of our Daily Rankers . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
EA Sports College Football 26: Jeremiah Smith launches into greater level of stardom
By the time Jeremiah Smith was old enough to experience "NCAA Football," the popular video game series developed by EA Sports, only a handful of iterations remained before production halted during what proved to be an 11-year hiatus. Born on Nov. 29, 2005, Smith's first exposure to the franchise came with his cousin Geno Smith, a collegiate star at West Virginia in the early 2010s who is now the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. Together, the boys would play using Geno Smith's own high-flying teams from an era when the Mountaineers were loaded with virtual favorites like Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. Back then, when he was little more than a gangly elementary schooler, Jeremiah Smith never could have imagined seeing his own face and figure on the cover of a video game sold around the world. Even when he eventually rose to stardom as a youth prodigy in South Florida, where his rise was chronicled for years, the prospect seemed bleak once EA Sports stopped producing the title after "NCAA Football 14" was released on July 9, 2013. But last summer came the long-awaited, wildly successful reboot of "EA Sports College Football 25," which has since become the best-selling sports video game in U.S. history, and the launch happened to coincide with the beginning of Smith's highly anticipated collegiate career. A former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Smith exploded onto the national stage with a record-setting freshman campaign that included 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns — capped, of course, by Ohio State's dominant run to the national championship in which he reached the end zone five times during the College Football Playoff alone. That he will now enter his sophomore season as one of the best players in the country — not to mention a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate — made Smith an easy choice to grace the cover of this year's game, "EA Sports College Football 26," where he will appear with fellow standout receiver Ryan Williams of Alabama, a decision that was announced Tuesday morning. "It's something that you dreamed of," Smith told me. "But to actually think you would be a cover athlete, and then it actually happened, it's something crazy for sure." Coupled with the game's impending release in early July, this week's announcement will launch the soft-spoken and mild-mannered Smith to an even greater level of stardom, though in many ways he's been residing in the sport's spotlight for nearly a decade. He and Williams, another age-defying star with 48 receptions totaling 865 yards and eight touchdowns as a 17-year-old freshman for the Crimson Tide, were whisked to California for the cover shoot earlier this year. They met with college football legends and former Heisman Trophy winners like Tim Tebow (Florida) and Reggie Bush (USC), and Smith couldn't believe that some of the greats whose highlights he'd watched on YouTube were now discussing how much they admired him. It was an experience Smith said he will never forget. [Related: Family, community and a desire to be great: Inside Jeremiah Smith's rise to stardom] For Smith, whose 20th birthday falls on the same day Ohio State travels to Michigan for this year's regular-season finale, the list of unforgettable experiences seems to lengthen by the month, dating to his fabled little league career with the Miami Gardens Ravens. He was the main attraction on a team that featured at least nine future Division I skill players, eight of whom played at schools in the Power 4 conferences last season, and routinely drew crowds in excess of 5,000 people — rain or shine. Opponents and adults alike sought his autograph when the Ravens traveled to national tournaments. His youth coach told anyone who would listen that Smith was destined to become the No. 1 wide receiver in the country long before a high school growth spurt transformed Smith's body into the 6-foot-3, 215-pound machine that ultimately reached the top of the 247Sports Composite rankings regardless of position. Toward the end of Smith's career at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood, Florida, where he won three consecutive state titles, the lines of "groupies" that formed outside the Lions' buses were so long that his coach weighed the possibility of hiring a bodyguard to protect Smith. All of that was before Smith arrived at Ohio State, where he forced his way into the starting lineup by the end of fall camp and promptly unleashed a barrage of one-handed catches that splattered across social media on a weekly basis. He caught five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown in the second game of his career against Western Michigan and hauled in nine passes for 100 yards and a score in a breakout showing at Oregon midway through the season. When the College Football Playoff finally arrived, at which point the Buckeyes began pumping the ball downfield, Smith nearly won the Rose Bowl single-handedly when he made seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns to leave the top-seeded Ducks gasping and grasping for air. By that point, as Ohio State closed in on its first national title since 2014, Smith couldn't even enter stores in Columbus without being mobbed by fans. "When I want groceries from either Kroger or Target," Smith said, "I have to get it delivered to my house. It's crazy. But I guess this is what comes with it. This is my lifestyle now." It's a lifestyle that, as of Tuesday morning, includes being the cover athlete for arguably the most famous sports video game franchise in existence, with fans across the country — and across the globe — aiming to replicate his real-life exploits in EA Sports' digital universe. They won't be tasked with expanding Smith's leadership skills the same way Ohio State's coaches have challenged their superstar during offseason workouts. Nor will they be sitting in with Smith and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, the team's first-year playcaller, for film sessions designed to increase Smith's understanding of opposing defenses, especially how to handle the bracket coverage he is likely to face again this fall. It's all but certain, however, that gamers everywhere will be firing passes in Smith's direction from either Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz, the two quarterbacks in contention for the Buckeyes' starting job, while trying to make him the first true receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since former Alabama star DeVonta Smith in 2020. And in real life, where Ohio State is chasing a second consecutive national championship, the human version of Jeremiah Smith might just do the same. "I definitely want to win it," Smith said when asked about a potential Heisman campaign. "But I'm just all about the team first. I just want to win that big one, that national championship. That's all I really care about." "We've gotta repeat and win it again." Michael Cohen covers college football and college basketball for FOX Sports. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams are cover athletes for 'College Football 26'
After lighting up the college football world as true freshmen in 2024, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams will be the cover athletes of "College Football 26," EA Sports announced Tuesday. Smith was arguably the best player on Ohio State's national championship-winning team in 2024. The first-team All-American set Big Ten freshman records for most receiving yards (1,315) and receiving touchdowns (15) last season. "Being on the cover of EA SPORTS 'College Football 26' is a tremendous privilege, and I'm proud to represent Ohio State alongside Coach [Ryan] Day while carrying the Buckeye legacy forward, celebrating the passion of our fans and the tradition of this incredible program," Smith said in a statement. Williams, meanwhile, had 48 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns, being named a freshman All-American as he was 17-years-old for the entirety of the 2024 season. "As a lifelong fan of EA SPORTS games, being on the cover of College Football 26 is a dream come true," Williams said in a statement. "It was incredible to see myself in 'College Football 25' last year, and now to represent Alabama and share this moment with fans who've played EA SPORTS games for years is unreal." Dating back to the "NCAA Football" iteration of EA Sports' college football video game, Smith will become the first Ohio State player to appear on the standard cover of the game. Williams is the third Alabama player to appear on the standard cover of the game, joining former Crimson Tide running backs Shaun Alexander and Mark Ingram. While Smith and Williams will be featured on the cover of the standard version of "College Football 26," the deluxe version will include more players. Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, LSU quarterback Garrett Nusmeier and Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik are among the group of players who'll join Smith and Williams on the cover of the deluxe edition. The inclusion of more players on the cover of the deluxe version is similar to what EA Sports did with the cover of the deluxe version of "College Football 25." However, the cover of the deluxe version of "College Football 26" will also include coaches, college football legends, mascots and fans: Ohio State's Ryan Day, Penn State's James Franklin, Georgia's Kirby Smart, Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham, Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin and Oregon's Dan Lanning. Past Heisman winners Reggie Bush and Tim Tebow, along with former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, are the three college football legends who are included on the deluxe version cover of "College Football 26." All three players were also previously cover athletes on "NCAA Football." As for the mascots, the Oregon Duck, Hairy Dawg (Georgia), Smokey (Tennessee) and the Tiger (Clemson) will appear on the deluxe cover of "College Football 26." "Last year, when we brought back the pride, pageantry, atmospheres and traditions of College Football, the response from fans was overwhelming," EA SPORTS College Football VP, Franchise Strategy & Marketing Evan Dexter said in a statement. "With College Football 26, we're celebrating our sophomore season with two generational sophomore wide receivers on the cover and we can't wait for the world to experience even more heart and authenticity across athletes, stadiums, coaches and fans. Tune in this Thursday to see what makes it so special." EA Sports' decision to have multiple players appear on the cover of "College Football 26" mirrors what it did when it relaunched the video game last year. Former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, former Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter and former Michigan running back Donovan Edwards appeared on the standard cover of last year's game, with Hunter winning the Heisman in 2024. In addition to sharing the cover athletes for "College Football 26," EA Sports also announced that the video game will be available for purchase on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The game can also be preordered now through the EA Sports MVP bundle, which includes the deluxe versions of "College Football 26" and "Madden 26," granting three-day early access to both games. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brag House CEO Lavell Juan Malloy II Featured in Authority Magazine's 'Startup Revolution' Series
NEW YORK, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brag House Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBH) ('Brag House' or the 'Company'), the premier Gen Z engagement platform at the intersection of gaming, college sports, and social interaction, today announced that CEO and Co-Founder Lavell Juan Malloy II was profiled in Authority Magazine's widely read Startup Revolution series, which highlights innovative companies and the leaders reshaping their industries. In the interview, Malloy reflects on the founding of Brag House, the challenges and lessons learned while scaling the business, and the Company's commitment to redefining how Gen Z connects with brands, sports, and digital communities. 'We are creating more than just a platform—we are building a new digital sports medium tailored to Gen Z,' said Lavell Juan Malloy II, CEO and Co-Founder of Brag House. 'It's about creating a space where school pride, gaming, and meaningful engagement collide in a way that speaks directly to how Gen Z interacts with culture and brands.' The profile discusses Brag House's: Origins from a community gap left by the discontinuation of EA's NCAA Football game; Landmark partnerships with Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Learfield to support immersive, college-aligned gaming activations; New initiatives like the Brag Gators Gauntlet series and the upcoming rollout of a subscription-based insights product, designed to help brands connect with Gen Z in a privacy-first, data-rich manner. 'By merging gameplay with school spirit, and backing it with real-time analytics and scalable monetization tools, we're creating a powerful framework that will enable brands to reach Gen Z with greater precision, authenticity, and ROI,' added Malloy. As highlighted in the Company's recent 10-K filing, Brag House is executing a multi-university activation roadmap with Learfield and continuing to invest in platform enhancements, branded experiences, NIL-integrated content, and digital loyalty tokens to scale its revenue model and user base. To read the full Authority Magazine interview, visit: About Brag HouseBrag House is a leading media technology gaming platform dedicated to transforming casual college gaming into a vibrant, community-driven experience. By seamlessly merging gaming, social interaction, and cutting-edge technology, the Company provides an inclusive and engaging environment for casual gamers while enabling brands to authentically connect with the influential Gen Z demographic. The platform offers live-streaming capabilities, gamification features, and custom tournament services, fostering meaningful engagement between users and brands. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the Company's strategic roadmap, potential monetization of new products or features, brand partnerships, or expected growth in user engagement. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Please refer to the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. Media Contact:Fatema BhabrawalaDirector of Media Relationsfbhabrawala@ Investor Relations Contact:Adele CareyVP, Investor Relationsir@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
