Two of college football’s biggest names are missing from the virtual sidelines. When EA Sports launched the deluxe edition of College Football 26 on Monday, July 7, fans who pre-ordered got their first taste of the game. But Bill Belichick and Deion Sanders, coaching legends with massive crossover appeal, chose to sit this one out.
Their absence stands out even more when you consider the star power they bring to college football beyond just X’s and O’s.
What Would Sanders and Belichick’s Ratings Look Like in College Football 26?
For the first time in franchise history, College Football 26 puts head coaches front and center alongside their players. If Sanders and Belichick had agreed to join the game, their digital ratings would have been through the roof.
Sanders, who leads the Colorado Buffaloes, would almost certainly have earned an A+ rating. His charisma, recruitment skills, and media presence have turned Colorado into a program that grabs headlines everywhere.
Meanwhile, Belichick brings decades of NFL success to his new college role. His tactical genius and defensive expertise would easily earn him a solid B+ to A rating. Just having his name attached would add serious credibility to any program.
Deion Sanders and Bill Belichick declined to be in EA Sports College Football 26❌
(via @ChrisVannini) https://t.co/f8munchL5d pic.twitter.com/CS3ssGL3kq
— On3 (@On3sports) July 7, 2025
Instead of the real deals, fictional stand-ins represent both legends in College Football 26. Colorado’s sideline features Kirk Patrick, who carries an A+ rating, while North Carolina gets Hector Luna at B+.
This isn’t shocking for Belichick, who famously stayed out of the Madden NFL series during his New England Patriots days.
Which Coaches Made the Cut for College Football 26?
The coaches who did join CF26 include some big names: Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, and Georgia’s Kirby Smart, to name a few. Day, Swinney, and Smart all earned the coveted CEO archetype, which represents the highest honor a coach can receive in the game.
When it comes to prestige rankings, Smart, Swinney, and Day all locked up A+ ratings. Smart and Swinney share the top “coach level” at 80, with Day trailing just behind at 72.
Overall, 11 real-life coaches received A+ prestige scores — Smart, Swinney, Day, Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian (Texas), Dan Lanning (Oregon), James Franklin (Penn State), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), Kalen DeBoer (Alabama), Brian Kelly (LSU), and Lincoln Riley (USC).
Meanwhile, the fictional representatives for Sanders and Mario Cristobal (also not in the game) each carry a coach level of 40.
Other notable coaches missing from the game include Stanford’s Frank Reich and UAB’s Trent Dilfer, both with deep NFL backgrounds. Like Belichick, their absence fits with their past decisions to avoid sports gaming participation.
As the 2025 season approaches, both coaches face huge expectations. Belichick’s college football debut comes at a time when the Atlantic Coast Conference is wide open for the taking. Sanders’ Colorado program, however, must rebuild after losing two of its biggest stars, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, to the NFL.
Which Coaches Are Not in College Football 26?
Here’s the full list of coaches who are not in EA Sports College Football 26.
- Mario Cristobal (Miami)
- Deion Sanders (Colorado)
- Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
- Bill Belichick (UNC)
- Bronco Mendenhall (Utah State)
- Tyson Helton (WKU)
- Charles Kelly (JVST)
- Frank Reich (Stan)
- Trent Dilfer (UAB)
- Bryant Vincent (ULM)
- Jason Eck (UNM)
- Mark Carney (Kent State)
