EA Sports College Football 26 was released on Monday, marking the second straight year a college football video game was released for next-gen consoles. EA Sports College Football 25 was released in July 2024, marking the first college football video game in 11 years following new rules that allowed players to be compensated for their name, image and likeness (NIL).
As one of 136 FBS programs in 2025, the University of Hawai‘i football team was again featured in the video game. The Rainbow Warriors were given a 74 overall rating as a ream. The UH defense was given a rating of 78, while the offense was given a rating of 69.
Although Hawai‘i began its new Nike deal on July 1, no uniforms for any UH teams have been publicly revealed. However, the game already features Nike uniforms for the Rainbow Warriors.
A notable absence for UH in EA Sports College Football 25 was its home field at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, with a generic stadium taking its place. In EA Sports College Football 26, the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex and its specifications are squarely in the game.
Hawai‘i's highest-rated player in the game is senior safety Peter Manuma, who holds a rating of 85. Meanwhile, wide receiver Nick Cenacle is the offense's highest-rated player at 84.
UCLA transfer Dermaricus Davis is the team's highest-rated quarterback (79), ahead of presumed starter Micah Alejado, who holds a rating of 74.
Multiple players who have exhausted their UH eligibility are in the game, such as defensive tackle Anthony Sagapolutele and punter Lucas Borrow. Borrow's appeal for an additional year of eligibility was denied by the NCAA following spring practice. Kicker Caleb Sempebwa, who left the team in the spring, is also on the video game roster.
UH received $9987.52 in NIL money from EA Sports to distribute among its players in 2024. In 2025, players are set to receive $1500 each to have their name, image and likeness appear in the game.
A notable absence in Hawai‘i's roster in the video game is its Class of 2025 freshman signing class. No incoming true freshman are currently on the team's EA sports roster.
Other true freshman across the country are featured in the game, such as Campbell alum and current Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who has an overall rating of 78.
The highest-rated player with Hawai‘i ties in EA Sports College Football 26 is Oregon center Iapani Laloulu. The Farrington alumnus was given an overall rating of 90.
As was the case in 2024, not every team had all its real life players in the game, leading to aliases. Repeat UH aliases such as receiver Damon Brazill and free safety Matthew Sherels are on the Rainbow Warrior roster in EA Sports College Football 26. As was the case last year, the roster will be updated throughout the season, with more current players set to be featured in the game.
For the first time, coaches and coordinators are also featured in the game. UH head coach Timmy Chang and offensive coordinator Anthony Arceneaux are in the game, while defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman is under the alias Jacob Johnson.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
