Ready to dive back into the football frenzy? Even when there isn’t a game on, the excitement around America’s favorite sport never really fades. But this Thursday night marks a key offseason highlight with the kickoff of the NFL draft. EA is seizing the moment by unveiling a draft-themed ad that celebrates the upcoming releases of EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. They’ve also confirmed when these eagerly anticipated titles will be hitting the shelves this summer.
EA’s latest commercial, a two-and-a-half-minute spot called “The Call,” is set to air during the draft on channels like ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. It spins the tale of a fictional wide receiver, J.D. Matthews Jr., capturing the rollercoaster of emotions as he receives the call from Washington Commanders’ head coach, Dan Quinn, indicating that the team has chosen him with the 29th overall pick. As Coach Quinn recounts the challenging yet triumphant journey Matthews Jr. undertook throughout high school and college, the raw emotion is written all over the Texas Longhorns star’s face.
The draft represents a pivotal moment where college football intersects with the NFL—a stage where dreams can turn into reality for NCAA standouts. For these athletes, getting that life-altering call on draft day is both a dream come true and the beginning of a challenging new chapter. Coach Quinn gently reminds the rookie about the hard work still ahead: “The work’s just starting.”
EA’s aim is for football enthusiasts to fully experience this journey by diving into both EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. On Thursday, they announced that the latest installment of what fans used to know as NCAA Football will drop on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Madden will follow suit on August 14, debuting on platforms including the Nintendo Switch 2 alongside Windows PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
In a notable shift, EA is saying goodbye to older consoles. This makes Madden NFL 25, released in 2024, the series’ final appearance on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Meanwhile, Madden NFL 26’s Switch 2 version marks the game’s return to Nintendo platforms after almost 13 years, with the last being a simplified edition of Madden NFL 13 for the Wii U, which launched back in November 2012. Details on Madden’s modes and features remain under wraps; however, we’re reaching out to EA to see if the Switch 2 version will match the PC and newer console versions in terms of features. Stay tuned for updates.
If you’re eager to secure your copy of College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, pre-orders are now open across all platforms. Although you won’t find the Switch 2 version on EA’s site, Amazon is offering pre-orders for a game-key card “physical” copy. Returning this year is the MVP Bundle, a digital-only offer for PS5 and Xbox Series X, perfect for those planning to grab both games. This bundle includes deluxe editions of both the college and pro titles for $149.99, saving you $50 compared to buying them separately at $99.99 each. Besides heaps of in-game perks for Ultimate Team, Road to Glory, Dynasty, Franchise, and Superstar modes, each Deluxe Edition grants a three-day early access to the respective game. You can find all the pre-order perks listed on the official College Football and Madden websites.
