EA Sports College Football 26 officially dropped on Thursday, marking the second consecutive year of the game’s release. The video game made its return last summer for the first time in over a decade.While EA did not release a full official list, On3 went looking through the video game’s rosters to compile the top-50 freshmen in this year’s edition. It’s worth noting that not every top-ranked high school recruit entering the 2025 season opted in to the game in time to make the intial release date. For example, Ohio State cornerback and No. 6 overall recruit Devin Sanchez is not featured in the game.For the second time in EA Sports College Football’s history, athletes are being compensated for having their name, image and likeness. That also means on-field performances are being factored into the players’ ratings. Here’s the full breakdown of the top-50 freshmen in EA Sports College Football 26:1. Oregon WR Dakorien Moore – 84 OverallThe top-ranked freshman in the game, Dakorien Moore, enters the 2025 season with high expectations. Previously committed to LSU and Texas, the Ducks were able to pull the wide receiver from Texas. With Evan Stewart expected to miss time this season, Moore is thrust into a big-time role in Year 1 at Oregon. Over his four-year high school career at Duncanville (Texas), he caught 204 passes, amassing 4,113 yards and 48 touchdowns while averaging better than 20 yards per catch.2. Clemson RB Gideon Davidson – 83 OverallAlready being tabbed as one of the top running backs in the ACC, Gideon Davidson is expected to contribute immediately this fall at Clemson. Quarterback Cade Klubnik compared Davidson to Clemson great Travis Etienne in fall camp. A four-star recruit in the Class of 2025, the running back finished his high school career with 7,438 rushing yards on 701 career carries with a 10.53-yard average and 118 rushing touchdowns.3. LSU RB Harlem Berry – 83 overallThe most electric running back in the 2025 cycle, Harlem Berry, has flashed the ability to be a game-changer in the passing game, too. The 5-foot-10, 182-pound running back was heavily utilized in the spring as returners Caden Durham and Kaleb Jackson were the only players getting as many reps as him. He is expected to immediately be a factor in LSU’s passing game. He topped the 2,000-yard mark for rushing yards all four years of high school.4. Clemson DL Amare Adams – 82 overallAt 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Amare Adams was as a top-five defensive linemen in the 2025 cycle. The top-ranked recruit in the state of South Carolina, Adams collected 250 career tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in his high school career. The Tigers have a deep defensive line with Peter Woods and T.J. Parker returning, but Adams will be a contributor as a true freshman.5. Georgia DL Elijah Griffin – 82 overallRanked by On3 as the No. 1 defensive lineman in the class of 2025, Elijah Griffin has turned heads since the minute he arrived at Georgia. He posted 53 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks as a senior in 2024 at Savannah Christian Preparatory School.“[Defensive lineman] Elijah Griffin is a bulletproof prospect. Really talented, really driven, one of the best I’ve been around. Maturity, habits — this guy is a pro,” a source told On3 in the winter.6. Texas RB James Simon – 81 overallRanked as the No. 10 running back in the 2025 class in the On3 Industry Ranking, James Simon left Louisiana for the state of Texas as a recruit. As a senior at Calvary Baptist Academy, he rushed for 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns on 149 carries. He averaged 8.6 yards per carry and logged six 100-yard rushing performances.7. Maryland ATH Zymear Smith – 81 overallZymear Smith was ranked as a top-10 athlete nationally as a recruit, picking Maryland over Penn State and South Carolina. A one-time Alabama commit, Smith carried the ball 71 times for 609 yards and 7 touchdowns while also catching nine passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns as a senior at Denton (Md.) North Caroline. He’s listed as a wide receiver on Maryland’s roster and a running back in EA Sports College Football 26.8. Texas WR Kaliq Lockett – 81 overallKaliq Lockett ranked as the No. 20 overall prospect in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. The five-star recruit is the highest-ranked wide receiver commit of the Steve Sarkisian era. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound wide receiver gives the Longhorns a big-body wideout on the outside. He caught 47 passes for 625 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior at Sachse (Texas).9. Kansas State TE Linkon Cure – 81 overallThe biggest win for Kansas State in the 2025 recruiting cycle, Linkon Cure, will immediately be a top target for quarterback Avery Johnson. Cure picked the Wildcats at the end, even with Oregon making a big-time push. The 6-foot-4.5, 225-pound tight end with a 32-inch arm and 10-inch hand finished his senior season with 1,049 yards and 17 touchdowns on 57 catches in just nine games.10. Michigan QB Bryce Underwood – 81 overallOn3’s No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, Bryce Underwood, stunned the nation last November when he flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound quarterback finished his high school career with a 50-4 record, winning state championships as a freshman and sophomore. He broke the Michigan high school football records for career passing and total touchdowns.11. Auburn DL Malik Autry – 81 overall12. Miami RB Girard Pringle Jr. – 81 overall13. Florida WR Vernell Brown – 80 overall14. Texas WR Jaime Ffrench – 80 overall15. Alabama RB AK Dear – 80 overall16. Texas DL Justus Terry – 80 overall17. Alabama OL Michael Carroll – 80 overall18. Texas A&M OL Lamont Rogers – 80 overall19. Georgia OL Juan Gaston – 80 overall20. LSU CB DJ Pickett – 80 overall21. Georgia Tech RB JP Powell – 80 overall22. Florida WR Dallas Wilson – 80 overall23. Ohio State QB Tavien St. Clair – 80 overall24. Alabama QB Keelon Russell – 80 overall25. Ohio State RB Bo Jackson – 80 overall26. Tennessee OL David Sanders – 80 overall27. Georgia EDGE Isaiah Gibson – 80 overall28. Oregon RB Dierre Hill – 80 overall29. Texas CB Kade Phillips – 80 overall30. Alabama CB Dijon Lee – 79 overall31. Texas A&M TE Kiotti Armstrong – 79 overall32. Florida State DL Kevin Wynn – 79 overall33. Miami EDGE Hayden Lowe – 79 overall34. Oklahoma OL Michael Fasusi – 79 overall35. UCLA RB Karson Cox – 79 overall36. Penn State RB Tikey Hayes – 79 overall37. Colorado QB Julian Lewis – 79 overall38. Texas EDGE Lance Jackson – 79 overall39. Texas WR Daylan McCutcheon – 79 overall40. UCF RB Taevion Swint – 79 overall41. Utah RB Daniel Bray – 79 overall42. Missouri RB Marquise Davis – 79 overall43. Miami OL SJ Alofaituli – 78 overall44. Syracuse S Demetres Samuel – 78 overall45. USC CB Trestin Castro – 78 overall46. Washington OL Champ Taulealea – 78 overall47. Penn State TE Andrew Olesh – 78 overall48. Cincinnati RB Zion Johnson – 78 overall49. Georgia LB Zayden Walker – 78 overall50. Florida EDGE Jalen Wiggins – 78 overall
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