One notable face is missing from the cover of NCAA Football 26.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning is not front and center on the video game this year, after he chose not to take part in the photoshoot for the cover at the Rose Bowl.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian also did not take part in the photoshoot for NCAA Football 26, meaning he is not included on the cover of the deluxe edition with other college coaches.
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The Longhorns were featured prominently in the game last year, its first edition of the franchise's reboot, with quarterback Quinn Ewers gracing the main cover alongside Colorado DB/WR Travis Hunter and Michigan RB Donovan Edwards.
Here's why Arch Manning is not on the NCAA Football 26 cover this year.
MORE: Who are the cover athletes for NCAA Football 26?
Why isn't Arch Manning on NCAA Football 26 cover?
Texas quarterback Arch Manning is not on the cover of NCAA Football 26 because he did not take part in a photoshoot for the game, which occurred at the Rose Bowl in April.
Steve Sarkisian also did not participate.
Manning and Sarkisian would have been natural choices to appear on the deluxe edition cover at least. The quarterback is taking the reins of a program that has been to the College Football Playoff in back-to-back seasons after he was one of the most hyped high school prospects in history. Sarkisian has brought Texas back to prominence in his four seasons in Austin, and the Longhorns are among the favorites to win the national title this season.
Who is on the cover of NCAA Football 26?
Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith are the athletes on the standard cover of EA Sports College Football 26. Both players became the faces of their schools last season with breakout performances as true freshmen.
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The cover of the deluxe edition of the game features several current players, including Penn State RB Nick Singleton, Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, and Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt, as well as current head coaches like Georgia's Kirby Smart and Oregon's Dan Lanning.
Powerhouse Programs. Real World Coaches. Electric Traditions. Experience it all in #CFB26.
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BENDER: Top 25 college football coach rankings for 2025
Arch Manning stats
Manning has played sparingly in his first two seasons at Texas, but the Longhorns won every game he started last year while he filled in for an injured Ewers. He will get the chance to be the full-time starter in 2025-26 as he tries to lead Texas to the national championship for the first time since 2006.
Here's a look at Arch Manning's career stats.
| Season | Year | Team | Conference | G | Cmp | Att | Cmp % | Yds | TD | INT |
| 2023-24 | FR | Texas | Big 12 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 40.0 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024-24 | FR | Texas | SEC | 10 | 61 | 90 | 67.8 | 939 | 9 | 2 |
| Career | 63 | 95 | 66.3 | 969 | 0 | 2 |