Summer training programs for college football are starting, and that means we’re one step closer to the release of College Football 26. Coming in July 2025, CFB 26 will introduce an entirely new crop of players transitioning from high school to the collegiate level. We’ll also see existing players from CFB 25 transfer schools, depending on the decisions they made in the portal during the offseason. All of this is to say that teams will look completely different when the new game is released.
So, out of the incoming freshmen or transfer players, who are the ones that you should keep your eye on? Whether you want to know for your Dynasty team pick or to gauge the potential Heisman frontrunners for the 2025-26 season, knowing who these players are will only aid you in CFB 26. To make things easier for you, we have listed the top 10 new players to watch in College Football 26 that are set to electrify the sport in the upcoming season and beyond.
These players aren’t ranked in any particular order.
Dakorien Moore (WR, Oregon Ducks)
First up, we have the newest wide receiver running routes for the Ducks of Oregon. Dakorien Moore was the fourth-ranked player in the ESPN 300 at the time he signed with the Ducks, which is the highest ranking for a receiver since 2020. Moore is set to make an immediate impact with the Ducks, and he should pair nicely with quarterback Dante Moore, who has some Heisman-sized shoes to fill at the position after spending a year under new Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Moore could easily have a Jeremiah Smith-type of breakout year as a freshman receiver if all things go well.
Gideon Davidson (RB, Clemson Tigers)
Another highly-touted freshman coming to a blue-chip program is running back Gideon Davidson. Davidson will suit up for Clemson in 2025 and could replicate exactly what Travis Etienne brought to the Tigers at his position. He’s shifty, fast, and is difficult to bring down once he gets past the line of scrimmage. Davidson might not be the highest-ranked freshman running back when College Football 26 is released, but he’s set to have one of, if not the biggest, impacts from his class.
Bryce Underwood (QB, Michigan Wolverines)
Bryce Underwood is the top freshman quarterback in the country coming into CFB 26. The Michigan native was originally set to attend LSU, but flipped his decision just days before signing with his hometown Wolverines. Underwood appears to be in line to start for Big Blue on opening day, but Mikey Keene, a transfer from Fresno State, could challenge him for the top spot on the depth chart. Regardless, though, Underwood has Heisman potential if he lives up to the numbers he put up in high school.
Devin Sanchez (CB, Ohio State Buckeyes)
The rich keep on getting richer in CFB 26, as the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes landed a gem of a cornerback in their 2025 recruiting class. Devin Sanchez has immediate first-round potential written all over him, boasting blistering fast speeds and a knack for finding the ball. Sanchez projects as one of the top cornerbacks in the Buckeyes’ secondary and might be one of the best defensive players in the country.
Keelon Russell (QB, Alabama Crimson Tide)
The quarterback room at Alabama is one of the most fascinating developments in college football. On one side, you have Ty Simpson, who looks ready to lead the team at age 22. However, you also have the number two recruit in the country in Keelon Russell circling the waters behind Simpson. Russell was the National Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024 and looks primed to take over the quarterback position for the Crimson Tide. Just when he takes over the job remains to be seen, but Russell’s potential is unquestioned for CFB 26.
Kaliq Lockett (WR, Texas Longhorns)
Texas lost a huge chunk of its wide receiver room to the NFL Draft, but fortunately, an incoming freshman should change the position’s outlook in CFB 26. Kaliq Lockett was a top 20 recruit at the start of 2025 and the second-highest rated receiver. He should slide into a starting role with the Longhorns and could find production similar to what Matthew Golden had in 2024. Lockett has terrific catching ability and should be able to come down with any ball thrown at him in the virtual world.
Isaiah Gibson (DE, Georgia Bulldogs)
Let’s start getting some defensive players on this list. Isaiah Gibson was the top-ranked edge rusher in his class and committed to his hometown Georgia Bulldogs, where he slides in along an always fearsome defensive line. Georgia has a real knack for getting the absolute best out of its pass rushers, and Gibson should easily be able to turn in a multi-sack year in 2025-26. Usering Gibson in CFB 26 should be a real treat given his speed and athletic ability.
Elijah Griffin (DL, Georgia Bulldogs)
It should come as no surprise that Georgia was able to recruit yet another hometown defensive anomaly. Elijah Griffin was the number-three-ranked freshman in the 2025 class and, like Isaiah Gibson, has the capacity to make an immediate impact along the Bulldogs’ defensive line. Griffin is a truly disruptive force of nature that can stop the run and get to the quarterback. Being able to switch between Griffin and Gibson on UGA’s defensive line is one heck of a reason to play as the Bulldogs in CFB 26.
Linkon Cure (TE, Kansas State Wildcats)
We can’t forget about the tight end position. Linkon Cure was the first-ranked tight end recruit in the 2025 class and opted to attend Kansas State after the Wildcats had a decent year in 2024 that ended with a bowl win. Cure is a natural receiving tight end who can create space and catch any ball that comes his way. However, don’t be afraid to use him as a blocker in CFB 26, as he stands 6-5″. Kansas State doesn’t have a ton of receiving options, though, so Cure should get a ton of looks in the passing game.
Harlem Berry (RB, LSU Tigers)
Rounding out the list is the top-ranked running back freshman from the 2025 class, Harlem Berry. Some scouts weren’t as sold on Berry as they were on someone like Gideon Davidson due to Berry facing lower-ranked competition in his small Louisiana hometown. However, if LSU can tap into Berry’s potential, he could be the first running back off the board when he enters the NFL Draft. He’s ultra quick, has great vision, and should be a top option for the Tigers’ offense in CFB26.
For a more complete look at the player rankings for College Football 26, check out our previous guide.
