Release Date and Early Access Details

The main launch date for College Football 26 is July 10, but those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition will get three days of College Football 26 Coins early access, beginning July 7. This early access window is designed to reward loyal fans who commit to the game before its full release.

Interestingly, this year’s early access comes even earlier than last year's College Football 25, where early access started on July 15 and full release came on July 19. EA appears to be pushing the calendar up to capitalize on the excitement around the upcoming college football season and the NFL Draft.

Players who opt for early access will get a head start on recruiting in Dynasty mode, building teams in Ultimate Team, and beginning their Road to Glory careers.

No PC Release Again: A Disappointing Trend

While EA continues to bring Madden NFL to PC platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Windows, College Football 26 will once again be console-exclusive. There is still no official PC version planned, despite the growing calls from PC gaming communities for EA to expand availability.

Speculation suggests that EA’s decision to withhold the game from PC is rooted in concerns about licensing enforcement, game security, and ensuring consistent gameplay quality. Managing NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rights across an open platform like PC could complicate EA’s control over player likeness usage.

Still, the omission of a PC version feels increasingly out of place in today’s gaming environment, where cross-platform launches are more common. Unless EA announces a major strategy shift in the future, college football fans on PC will have to stick with consoles if they want to CUT 26 Coins hit the virtual gridiron.