Ohio State’s Football Stars Dominate ‘College Football 26’ Rankings — But One Surprise Snags the Spotlight!

We continue to count down to the release of EA Sports’ “College Football 26,” the second-year reboot of the popular college football video game franchise. Those who purchase the Deluxe Edition will have early access on July 7, with everyone being able to gain access on July 10.

Included were the top ten ranked offensive players, and yeah, Smith was on top of that list. However, instead of the original screenshot of him being an overall 99, it now appears as though the superstar wideout is an overall “98.” There aren’t any other OSU players among the top ten on the offensive side, and only one other Big Ten player, Penn State Nicholas Singleton, who barely made the cut as the No. 10 rated offensive player with an overall 93. Alabama receiver — who just so happens to be with Smith on the cover of the game — is the second best player with an overall rating of 96.Leading up to that, EA Sports has been releasing some information about the game that’s sure to become a staple of many college football fans. One of those things the game-maker is sending out on social media is some of the ratings of the teams and players. We already know that Jeremiah Smith is the highest-rated player in the game, and that Ohio State is ranked as the third-best team you can play with, but on Tuesday, EA Sports released some of the top-end rankings of other players.

But wait. Not only does Ohio State have the highest-rated offensive player, it also has the best defensive player in the game, with safety Caleb Downs ranking No. 1 with an overall rating of 96. Like the offensive side, Downs is the only OSU defensive player in the top ten and just one of two Big Ten players with Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman coming in at No. 10 with an overall rating of 93.

We’ll have a further breakdown of Ohio State players when the complete list of ratings is released by EA Sports. That should be an interesting look at what the game believes about OSU’s roster for the 2025 season. For now, though, somewhat unsurprisingly, the Buckeyes are well-represented at the top of what the game has to offer.

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In addition to sharing the top ten on both sides of the ball, EA Sports also released the top five by position, and one other Buckeye made those lists with transfer tight end Max Klare checking in as the No. 3 tight end in the game with an overall rating of 91.The anticipation is reaching a fever pitch as EA Sports gears up to drop “College Football 26″—the highly awaited second installment of their beloved college football video game franchise. This July, the Deluxe Edition will grant fans an exclusive early kickoff on the 7th, with full access opening up on the 10th. In the days leading up to the launch, EA has been tantalizing us with sneak peeks, notably revealing some eye-popping player and team ratings that are already stirring up chatter among ardent followers of the gridiron. We all knew Jeremiah Smith would be a standout, but now, with fresh rankings unveiled, Ohio State’s prowess shines even brighter, dominating both offense and defense in this immersive digital showdown. If you’re as pumped as I am to see how the Buckeyes stack up across the board, stick around—these digs promise a rich dive into one of college football’s finest rosters this coming season. LEARN MORE