For the second time in as many seasons, a Michigan football player is on the cover of one of the top video games.
A year after Donovan Edwards graced the cover of EA Sports College Football 25, incoming freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood has found himself on the cover of EA Sports College Football 26 Deluxe Edition.
The generic cover features Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, two sophomore stars as the game celebrates the “sophomore year” of its return. The deluxe edition cover features a montage of college football players, coaches and mascots.
Underwood isn’t the only person with Michigan ties on the cover of the deluxe edition, which includes enhanced features for gamers. Just behind him, there’s an image of former Michigan football quarterback Denard Robinson. Interestingly, it doesn’t appear to be from his playing days, but rather a more recent picture from his time as a staffer in Ann Arbor.
Robinson, however, has not been employed by U-M for more than a year, since he was arrested at the corner of Eisenhower and State in Ann Arbor for operating a vehicle while intoxicated on April 15, 2024. Robinson, of course, was one of the greatest athletes to play the position when he became known as “shoelace” from 2009-2012.
The hope these days is that Underwood can be every bit as dynamic as Robinson was on the field when he played at the Big House. The Belleville product, who was a five-star player and rated the No. 1 overall incoming freshman per 247sports composite rankings, was named to a recent ESPN list as the top freshman to watch anywhere in the nation.
The hype continues to grow, particularly with happenings such as this. He is the first true freshman to appear on the cover of the video game prior to taking an official snap.
Underwood is the fifth U-M player to grace the cover, joining Edwards last year, Charles Woodson (NCAA Football 99), Desmond Howard (NCAA Football 06) and Robinson (NCAA Football 14).
The game will be released July 10, 2025, and be made available on Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X and S.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
