EA College Football Cover Includes Colorado Bufaloes Easter Egg, No Deion Sanders

It didn’t take Colorado Buffaloes fans long to spot the subtle jab from Nebraska on EA Sports’ newly revealed 2026 NCAA College Football video game poster.

Tucked into the crowded backdrop of this year’s promotional image is a Nebraska fan proudly holding up a custom license plate that reads “BEAT CU.”

Sep 9, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Powerhouse Programs. Real World Coaches. Electric Traditions. Experience it all in #CFB26.

Coming July 10. Pre-Order Now
🔗: https://t.co/PswZmDtrOF pic.twitter.com/FyQjPSTCj8
— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) May 27, 2025

For most viewers, it’s a quick blink-and-you-miss-it detail. But for Buffs Nation, it’s a pointed Easter egg and, notably, the only visible reference to Colorado football on the poster.

It's a sharp contrast from last year when EA Sports made Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes the face of their long-awaited reboot.

In 2025, Colorado’s high-flying two-way star cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter was front and center—literally.

The then-Heisman Trophy Award hopeful appeared on the cover of EA's College Football 25 in full Buffs uniform, embodying a new era of Colorado football swagger.

A commercial for the College Football 25 video game, featuring Texas Football quarterback Quinn Ewers plays during the fifth inning of the Longhorns' baseball game against the Kansas Jayhawks, Thursday, May 16, 2024 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin. | Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

It turned out the hype wasn’t just promotional.

Hunter delivered one of the most dominant seasons in recent college football history—becoming a unanimous All-American, winning the Heisman Trophy, and eventually going No. 2 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Dec 14, 2024; New York, NY, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter after winning the 2024 Heisman Trophy. Mandatory Credit: Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via Imagn Images | Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via Imagn Images

MORE: Travis Hunter Sr. Receives Approval To Attend Son's Wedding, Accused Of Seeking Special Treatment

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MORE: Deion Sanders' Nike Air Diamond Turf Sells Out, Proving Coach Prime's Influence Still Reigns

EA Sports capitalized on the hype of the Heisman, releasing a Travis Hunter limited-edition “Cheat Code” shirt and poster to celebrate.

Congrats on your historic Heisman win @TravisHunterJr.

Own the moment by downloading #TheCheatCode wallpaper📲https://t.co/94b45OZpEK⁰⁰#Heisman #CFB25 pic.twitter.com/70xXLBAO5Z
— EA SPORTS (@EASPORTS) December 15, 2024

Now, one year later, Colorado has gone from the ranks of main character to non-player character—not exactly a flattering shift in the world of video games.

The 2026 College Football game cover will feature two powerhouse playmakers—Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams and Ohio State’s standout receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Sophomore season loading…

Your #CFB26 Cover Stars @Ryanwms1 + @Jermiah_Smith1

Coming July 10. Full Reveal Thursday.
🔗: https://t.co/Evtg4x97HP pic.twitter.com/AVoMYokJIr
— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) May 27, 2025

EA Sports also released a promotional poster spotlighting “Powerhouse Programs” and “Real World Coaches,” featuring college football legends like Tim Tebow and Reggie Bush alongside current head coaches such as Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, and Oregon’s Dan Lanning.

But with "Coach Prime" missing, it’s hard not to wonder: was this a missed opportunity to continue showcasing one of the sport’s most influential figures?

That absence is striking to some Colorado fans, especially considering how much national buzz Sanders has generated since arriving in Boulder.

One fan on X wrote: "No coach prime or any CU players on cover this time 🤔👀"

Few figures have done more to energize a college football brand.

Sep 16, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images | Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images

From packed practices and games to record-breaking TV ratings and headline-grabbing transfers, Sanders has transformed Colorado into a national brand—one that resonates with casual fans, recruits, and media alike.

The Buffs are also the focus of a new three-part Netflix docuseries, continuing a run of visibility that few programs in the country can match.

And while Colorado didn’t finish 2024 with a victory at the Valero Alamo Bowl, the program remains one of the sport’s most talked-about storylines because of "Coach Prime."

Dec 28, 2024; San Antonio, TX, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reacts from the sideline during the third quarter against the Brigham Young Cougars at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Last year, EA Sports fully embraced that story.

This year, it feels more like a passing mention—albeit one that still lingers in the minds of rival Nebraska fans, as the “BEAT CU” plate playfully reminds.

While this year’s NCAA College Football release might not hit the same for Colorado fans, it still serves as a satisfying reminder that the Buffs are living rent-free in the minds of Nebraska faithful.

And for now, the only way the Corn will be beating the Buffs is with a controller in hand.