With just under a month until EA’s College Football 26 is released, how highly do you think each Michigan football player will be ranked in the game?
EA Sports is set to release their second iteration of the rebooted franchise, College Football 26, on July 10. For most college football junkies, the release of CFB 25 last summer was a much anticipated day. While this year’s release doesn’t have quite the same fanfare, it will contain the first opportunity for Michigan fans to play as Bryce Underwood.
With video game rankings being incredibly subjective, we thought we’d take a stab at projecting where each of the main contributors in the rotation will be ranked when the game comes out.
QB: Mikey Keene (81), Bryce Underwood (80), Jadyn Davis (77)
In CFB 25, five-star recruits tended to land in the high 70s or low 80s. As Underwood was the No. 1 overall recruit, I’d expect EA to rank him as an 80 as a true freshman. Keene will likely be in the same ballpark, but don’t be surprised to see him slightly higher than Underwood thanks to his college experience.
RB: Justice Haynes (89), Jordan Marshall (88), Micah Ka’apana (82)
Haynes and Marshall figure to be a fierce tandem both in real life and in the game. I’d expect their rankings to be similar and on the cusp of the 90s.
FB: Max Bredeson (87)
Bredeson’s ranking will be based on strength, durability and blocking more than anything else. His speed will likely be low, but his overall ranking may be higher than most expect.
WR: Donaven McCulley (84), Semaj Morgan (84), Fred Moore (82), Peyton O’Leary (79)
Michigan’s wide receivers were much-maligned in 2024. While I expect them to be better on the field, I don’t expect EA to give them much credit in the game.
TE: Marlin Klein (88), Hogan Hansen (86)
Klein, Hansen and the rest of the tight ends seem primed to have a breakout year. Expect Klein and Hansen to start in the mid-to-high 80s with a chance at growing throughout the year.
OL: Gio El-Hadi (90), Andrew Sprague (87), Greg Crippen (86), Nathan Efobi (85), Evan Link (81), Andrew Babalola (80)
Like Underwood, Babalola comes in as a highly regarded five-star. I’d expect him to crack into the 80s. Elsewhere, I’d expect EA to recognize the steps Michigan’s offensive line took near the end of last season and reward at least one of them with a 90 overall rating.
DT: Rayshaun Benny (94), Tre Williams (86), Damon Payne (85), Trey Pierce (85), Enow Etta (84)
I would be shocked if anyone other than Benny or Dominic Zvada are the highest rated Wolverines. After Benny, Michigan has depth galore that will all likely start in the mid-to-high 80s.
Edge: Derrick Moore (90), T.J. Guy (89), Cam Brandt (84), Dominic Nichols (83)
Moore absolutely should have a 90+ rating, though I am less confident in this projection than I am for Benny. Guy should also be nearing that. Michigan’s depth shines through, as Brandt and Nichols are more than serviceable backups.
LB: Jaishawn Barham (92), Ernest Hausmann (90), Jimmy Rolder (86)
Video games always tend to overrate the physical specimen who stands out as a player. Not to say Barham is overrated by any means, but it would not surprise me in the least to see him as one of Michigan’s highest rated players. Hausmann is also a household name at this point, so a 90+ rating wouldn’t surprise me.
CB: Jyaire Hill (89), Zeke Berry (86), Jo’Ziah Edmond (83)
Hill is a breakout candidate this year. As CB1 at a blue-blood program like Michigan, the high 80s feels about right. Berry and Edmond are solid players in their own right, but I don’t expect EA to have fully scouted their games.
S: Rod Moore (93), Brandyn Hillman (86), Mason Curtis (85)
Moore’s health status is paramount to Michigan’s season in real life. However, to the video game, his health status is far from important. Expect him to be one of the top rated Wolverines in the game.
ST: Dominic Zvada (95), Luke Bauer (79)
Is it extreme to have a kicker be the highest-rated player on a team? Maybe. Is it also likely an accurate statement when looking at Michigan’s 2025 roster? Absolutely. Zvada is an absolute weapon, so expect him to be ranked as such. As for Bauer, punters are habitually underrated in video games, so we’ll give him a high 70s rating.
My highest-rated Wolverines are Dominic Zvada (95), Rayshaun Benny (94), Rod Moore (93), Jaishawn Barham (92), Ernest Hausmann (90), and Derrick Moore (90). Let me know where you think I’m right or wrong in the comments below.