Clemson University has taken center stage in the build-up to EA Sports College Football 26, providing over 7,000 high-resolution images to aid in the game’s digital recreation of the Tigers’ football atmosphere. EA Sports described the effort as “the gold standard” for authenticity and collaboration in sports gaming.
The Tigers will also be prominently featured on the game’s Deluxe Edition cover, with quarterback Cade Klubnik among the highlighted athletes. Clemson becomes one of the few programs to earn multiple cover appearances heading into the 2025 season, adding to the franchise’s growing excitement.
EA Sports Celebrates Clemson’s Massive Effort for College Football 26
EA Sports is spotlighting Clemson University after the school provided a staggering 7,000 high-resolution images to aid in developing College Football 26. The submission has been hailed as “the gold standard” by EA’s principal game designer, Ben Haumiller, who praised the school for going above and beyond in helping bring the digital version of the Tigers’ football environment to life.
“First off, let me just say, like, we asked and you delivered,” Haumiller said on the 2 Right Turns podcast. “As far as the requests for assets and photos and everything possible, I don’t remember the exact number, but it wasn’t the thousands of images sent our way of these high-resolution shots of every angle, every aspect of the stadium. But it wasn’t just a dump of all those.”
He praised Tiger’s attention to detail, stating,
“They took the time to go through and put them in individual folders… our art director was just like, this is the gold standard. I will go and say 7,000 photos was the original submission to EA, 7,000 photos.”
BEST is the standard.
The full episode of 2 Right Turns with representatives from @EASPORTSCollege is available now! Tap any of the links below. 🐅🎙️ pic.twitter.com/JJYxC03tw2
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) June 16, 2025
Clemson’s submission didn’t just enhance visual accuracy; it also dramatically streamlined the production process. In prior years, EA’s development teams were required to travel to various campuses to capture stadium photography. This time, Clemson’s organized and extensive documentation allowed EA to allocate more resources toward perfecting in-game design rather than spending time on-site.
Every detail of Memorial Stadium, commonly known as Death Valley, has been digitally rendered with striking precision. Clemson’s attention to detail, from handrails in the upper deck to banners and seating arrangements, helped elevate the game’s realism, particularly for program fans.
This recognition comes after the massive success of College Football 25, which relaunched the franchise after more than a decade. That edition was celebrated for its gameplay depth, Dynasty and Road to Glory modes, and authentic college football atmosphere, becoming one of the top-selling sports titles of the year.
Set for release on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, College Football 26 will feature 136 FBS teams, current players like Klubnik, mascots, and iconic coaches. Klubnik appears on the Deluxe Edition cover, underscoring Clemson’s influence within the game and its partnership with EA Sports.
