EA Sports College Football 26 will be released on July 16.
Player scores, stadium pulses, and team ratings continue to flood the internet and build anticipation for the game.
It begs the question: How well does Penn State stack up?
The Nittany Lions are one of the most respected programs in the video game, earning top-three grades on both sides of the football.
Penn State is in a four-way tie for the highest-rated offense (91 overall) with Texas, Ohio State, and Arizona State. All four teams reached the College Football Playoff, and the former three to the CFP semifinals.
National Champion Ohio State may have a similar offense, but Penn State owns a superior defense.
PSU ranks tied for second in defensive rating (94), alongside the Longhorns. Alabama (96) leads the pack with the highest rating for an offense or defense. Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, LSU, and Texas Tech follow at a 92.
Penn State returns seven starters and two other significant contributors from last seasonโs 13-3 season. The Nittany Lions reached the Big Ten Championship, won two games in the CFP, and were one of the final four teams.
Drew Allar returns as one of the ten most hyped veteran quarterbacks in the sport, bearing the weight of high expectations to win a national title. 1,000-yard backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are back to stabilize the offense and run behind four returning starters.
Sophomore tight end Luke Reynolds is in line for a breakout season following the graduation of Mackey Award winner Tyler Warren.
Penn Stateโs defense welcomes back key members in every positional group. Defensive tackle Zane Durant, edge Dani Dennis-Sutton, linebackers Tony Rojas and Dom DeLuca, cornerback A.J. Harris, and safety Zakee Wheatley form one of the most formidable defenses of any.
Coached by new DC Jim Knowles, who had the No. 2 defense in the country last year at Ohio State, Penn State looks to turn a great defense into a dominant one this season.
The college football video game returned to PlayStation and Xbox last fall after a lengthy hiatus due to player compensation. NIL changed everything, allowing players to opt into the game in exchange for compensation for their name, image, and likeness.
