EA Sports has announced that the highly anticipated College Football 27 will hit stores in the middle of July 2026, and the company has chosen three emerging players to grace its cover.
Cover stars and release timeline
Malachi Toney, Dante Moore and Kewan Lacy will appear on the game’s front page, each representing a new generation of collegiate talent that the publisher hopes to spotlight.
Among the notable absences is veteran ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, whose distinctive voice has become synonymous with college football coverage for decades.
The publisher has not disclosed the specific reason behind his exclusion, leaving fans to speculate about scheduling conflicts, contractual considerations, or a strategic shift toward a newer generation of on‑air talent.
Herbstreit’s roots in Ohio
Herbstreit’s connection to the sport runs deep; he quarterbacked Ohio State from 1989 to 1993, earned team captain honors, was named MVP, and graduated with a degree in 1992. His father, Jim Herbstreit, also captained the Buckeyes and later contributed as a coach at the same institution.
A legacy of authenticity
Known as the “voice of college football,” Herbstreit brought a level of insight that helped shape EA’s previous college‑football titles, lending his expertise to commentary that resonated with both hardcore fans and casual gamers.
New faces on the cover
The inclusion of Malachi Toney, Dante Moore and Kewan Lacy signals an effort to celebrate the contemporary stars who are reshaping the collegiate landscape, blending on‑field dynamism with the game’s evolving narrative.
Balancing tradition and innovation
EA Sports says the latest edition is designed to capture the modern era of college football, blending historic narratives with the energy of today’s game. By pairing the seasoned perspective of former broadcasters with fresh on‑field personalities, the company hopes to deliver an experience that feels both nostalgic and forward‑looking.
While the mystery surrounding Herbstreit’s departure remains unresolved, the company’s focus on authentic representation continues to drive its design choices, promising a title that reflects the evolving dynamics of the sport.