CFB 26：Who’s Missing? Examining the Omitted Coaches & NIL Deal Nuances
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 4:31 am
Several notable head coaches are missing from EA Sports College Football 26, mainly due to individual decisions related to licensing and image rights agreements. Among the most prominent absences are Mario Cristobal (Miami), Deion Sanders (Colorado), Bill Belichick (North Carolina), and Kirk Ferentz (Iowa). Alongside these, coaches like Bronco Mendenhall, Tyson Helton, Charles Kelly, Frank Reich, Trent Dilfer, Bryant Vincent, Jason Eck, and Mark Carney are also not included in the game.
Reasons for Omissions
Licensing Refusals: Coaches such as Bill Belichick have a well-known history of opting out of licensing agreements; Belichick, for example, has not appeared with his real likeness in EA games since 2001 because he avoids such deals. Deion Sanders reportedly declined EA’s offer to be included, making his absence player-choice driven rather than technical.
Contractual/Interest Issues: Mario Cristobal’s absence seems tied to his personal focus on coaching rather than participating in the game, suggesting he had little interest in licensing his likeness.
Smaller Schools or Overlook: Some coaches from smaller FBS programs may be missing due to paperwork issues or lower priority in licensing negotiations.
Even without these coaches, fans continue to customize their experience, and some choose to buy CFB 26 Coins to further personalize gameplay through Ultimate Team modes or coaching builds.
Impact on Gameplay
Missing coaches are replaced by generic or placeholder coaches in the game.
Fans of schools led by the absent coaches are likely to notice and feel the gap in authenticity.
The majority of FBS head coaches (125 out of 136) opted in, making for a largely authentic coaching roster despite these absences.
NIL Deal Nuances
While the missing coaches are mostly due to individual licensing decisions, the game's handling of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals is more comprehensive overall and marks a shift toward realism.
Coaches and players must agree to licensing deals to appear authentically, and some high-profile figures choose not to, affecting in-game rosters.
The complexity of NIL agreements means ongoing changes in who appears in the game can be expected, with updates potentially restoring missing coaches if deals are later reached.
As licensing updates continue post-launch, players are keeping an eye on roster tweaks and making use of cheap CFB 26 Coins to stay ahead competitively.
EA Sports College Football 26 features most head coaches but excludes several notable names due to licensing refusals or personal choice.
Deion Sanders and Bill Belichick are two of the highest-profile omissions, with Cristobal and Ferentz also notably absent.
Missing coaches are represented by generic stand-ins.
NIL complexities and licensing negotiations remain dynamic, influencing the game's roster authenticity and ongoing updates.
Reasons for Omissions
Licensing Refusals: Coaches such as Bill Belichick have a well-known history of opting out of licensing agreements; Belichick, for example, has not appeared with his real likeness in EA games since 2001 because he avoids such deals. Deion Sanders reportedly declined EA’s offer to be included, making his absence player-choice driven rather than technical.
Contractual/Interest Issues: Mario Cristobal’s absence seems tied to his personal focus on coaching rather than participating in the game, suggesting he had little interest in licensing his likeness.
Smaller Schools or Overlook: Some coaches from smaller FBS programs may be missing due to paperwork issues or lower priority in licensing negotiations.
Even without these coaches, fans continue to customize their experience, and some choose to buy CFB 26 Coins to further personalize gameplay through Ultimate Team modes or coaching builds.
Impact on Gameplay
Missing coaches are replaced by generic or placeholder coaches in the game.
Fans of schools led by the absent coaches are likely to notice and feel the gap in authenticity.
The majority of FBS head coaches (125 out of 136) opted in, making for a largely authentic coaching roster despite these absences.
NIL Deal Nuances
While the missing coaches are mostly due to individual licensing decisions, the game's handling of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals is more comprehensive overall and marks a shift toward realism.
Coaches and players must agree to licensing deals to appear authentically, and some high-profile figures choose not to, affecting in-game rosters.
The complexity of NIL agreements means ongoing changes in who appears in the game can be expected, with updates potentially restoring missing coaches if deals are later reached.
As licensing updates continue post-launch, players are keeping an eye on roster tweaks and making use of cheap CFB 26 Coins to stay ahead competitively.
EA Sports College Football 26 features most head coaches but excludes several notable names due to licensing refusals or personal choice.
Deion Sanders and Bill Belichick are two of the highest-profile omissions, with Cristobal and Ferentz also notably absent.
Missing coaches are represented by generic stand-ins.
NIL complexities and licensing negotiations remain dynamic, influencing the game's roster authenticity and ongoing updates.