College Football 27 cover athletes: Why Dante Moore, Malachi Toney chosen over Arch Manning for video game

College football is loaded with talent as the 2026 season approaches, with some key players opting to return to school and even more stars playing out their sophomore or junior seasons as they await NFL Draft eligibility.

Three will grace the cover of EA College Football 27, with five total players and one coach expected to land on the Deluxe Edition cover.

Last year's cover featured Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith and Alabama WR Ryan Coleman-Williams (then just Ryan Williams), but this year's cover will be more diverse with players from three different positions.

Here's a look at which players made it onto the EA College Football 27 cover.

MORE: NCAA Football covers by year

Who is on the College Football 27 cover?

Three college football stars are set to shine on the cover of College Football 27: Oregon QB Dante Moore, Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy and Miami WR Malachi Toney.

Official EA Sports College Football 27 cover featuring Kewan Lacy, Malachi Toney and Dante Moore. pic.twitter.com/zuF8epaoHf

Moore will be one of the biggest names in college football this season after passing on the opportunity to be a high first-round NFL Draft pick to return to the Ducks after reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals, while Lacy and Toney each made it to the semifinals as well.

Lacy proved to be one of the nation's top running backs after transferring from Missouri, posting 1.567 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground, while Toney went from an unheralded recruit to a legitimate weapon for Miami with 1,324 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns.

The only team from last season's final four not represented on the cover is Indiana, but that makes sense with star Fernando Mendoza now in the NFL. Coach Curt Cignetti did, however, earn a spot on the Deluxe Edition cover, where he will be joined by Moore, Lacy and Toney along with USC QB Jayden Maiava, Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore and Texas DE Colin Simmons. Here's the leaked Deluxe Edition cover:

One notable name not on either cover is Texas QB Arch Manning. Here's why.

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Why isn't Arch Manning on College Football 27 cover?

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he and Manning opted out of the EA College Football 26 cover shoot, so Manning presumably did so again. Sarkisian did not give a reason.

Had he not opted out, Manning presumably would have been featured on the cover in some form as college football's most recognizable player.

Manning initially opted out of the video game altogether when EA Sports brought it back in 2024, saying he wanted to focus on football instead, but he reversed course later that year and was included as a player in the game. 

College Football 27 covers by year

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College Football 27 release date

EA Sports has not yet formally announced a release date for College Football 27, but it can be expected in early July after last year's game was released on July 10.

According to MUTLeaks, which has leaked accurate game information in the past, gameplay access could begin as soon as July 2 for MVP+ Membership subscribers.