Coaches Take Center Stage in EA Sports College Football 26

EA Sports College Football 26 is out, and this time, it's not just the players who are making waves. Over 300 college football coaches have stepped into the virtual spotlight, each with their own ratings and archetypes. This is a big deal because last year's game didn't include licensed coaches. However, a few notable names like Bill Belichick, Deion Sanders, Kirk Ferentz, and Mario Cristobal decided to sit this one out. Still, the majority of coaches are in the game, which means EA Sports had to figure out how to rank them. The top dogs in the game are Georgia's Kirby Smart, Clemson's Dabo Swinney, and Ohio State's Ryan Day. They all snagged the "CEO" archetype, the highest you can get. Smart and Swinney are tied at the top with a coaching level of 80, while Day is close behind at 72. In total, 11 real-world coaches got an A+ in coach prestige, including stand-ins for Cristobal and Sanders, who both have a coaching level of 40. But not everyone is at the top. Delaware's Ryan Carty, FAU's Zach Kittley, Ohio's Brian Smith, and Marshall's Tony Gibson are at the bottom of the prestige list with a D- and coaching levels below 22. The only coach with an F prestige rating is the CPU-generated coach for Kent State, as their interim coach, Mark Carney, isn't in the game. The game breaks down coach prestige ratings, coach level, and archetype for every coach in each conference. For example, in the Big Ten, Ohio State's Ryan Day is at the top with an A+ and a coaching level of 72, while Kent State's CPU coach is at the bottom with an F and a coaching level of 20. The SEC has Georgia's Kirby Smart leading the pack with an A+ and a coaching level of 80, while Mississippi State's Jeff Lebby is at the bottom with a C and a coaching level of 40. It's interesting to see how these ratings shake out. Some coaches might feel they deserve higher ratings, while others might be happy with where they landed. Either way, it's a fun way to see how the gaming world views the real-world coaches.