Jeremiah Smith Appears to Confirm EA College Football 26 Cover Leak

On Wednesday, a potential deluxe edition cover for College Football 26 leaked on social media. Similar to the 2025 edition, the cover featured multiple standout players instead of just one.

Among the athletes included were Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs, Florida’s DJ Lagway, Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, Penn State's Nicholas Singleton and more.

The leaked cover also featured multiple coaches, such as Georgia's Kirby Smart, Penn State’s James Franklin and Ohio State’s Ryan Day.

While EA has yet to officially reveal the cover or confirm whether this is the deluxe edition, Smith appeared to confirm that he himself was included.

Just hours before the leak, the Ohio State wide receiver shared a photo on his Instagram story showing him at the Rose Bowl Stadium—the same place where last season’s cover was shot and the backdrop for the leaked image.

The timing of his Pasadena visit on the same day the cover surfaced is no coincidence.

Smith also reposted the rumor about him being on it.

Even though Smith will only be a sophomore next season, there’s no doubt he belongs on the cover. As a true freshman, he earned first-team All-American honors, Big Ten Receiver of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten, and was named a freshman All-American. He also helped lead Ohio State to a College Football Playoff National Championship.

His numbers were through the roof, finishing with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns.