Despite the Texas Longhorns being one of the biggest football powerhouses in the nation and the Horns' starting quarterback having an NIL deal with EA, a leak of the newest video game cover lacks the presence of any Texas football members.
The leak, which was initially shared on Instagram and then shared on X by On3's Hayes Fawcett, features a mock-up of the EA College Football 26 cover and features players from Florida's DJ Lagway to Alabama's Ryan Williams as well as head coaches like Ohio State's Ryan Day and Georgia's Kirby Smart.
The cover even features Bryce Underwood, the projected starting quarterback for Michigan, who is a true freshman and has yet to play a snap of collegiate football.
EARLY LOOK: EA Sports College Football 26 cover photo (Deluxe Edition)
— On3 (@On3sports) March 13, 2025
Athletes included: Bryce Underwood, DJ Lagway, Garrett Nussmeier, Jeremiyah Love, Ryan Williams, Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs, Sam Leavitt & Dylan Stewart.
(via tubbycfb/IG)https://t.co/2alXsLk9Cj pic.twitter.com/iDfxjuaLto
Yet, despite Texas' new starting quarterback Arch Manning having a direct deal with Electronic Arts (EA), there are no Longhorns featured, not even Hook'Em.
Last year, Manning tapped into his connection to one famous football icon (who happens to be his uncle), Eli Manning, to announce his NIL deal with EA. The young quarterback has since signed blockbuster deals with Red Bull and Uber.
While the leak of the cover has yet to be confirmed or denied by EA, there are some speculations that the absence of Manning and any of his fellow Longhorns could point towards the possibility of him having his own version of the cover, the game consistently featuring multiple variations.
The release date for EA College Football 26 is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26, and users with early access are expected to be able to play the game as early as Sept. 20.