With another College Football video game, let’s take a look at who the Wildcats have at the top.
EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 was such a success that EA decided to make another one. CFB 26 released this week with updated rosters and two additional teams when compared to last year’s game. While the Big Ten does have the highest rated player in the game (98 overall Jeremiah Smith), we’re looking at how Northwestern stacks up.
For the ‘Cats, only one player is rated 90+. Offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan (listed at left tackle in CFB 26) is ranked in the top 100 players in the entire game at a 91 overall and is tied as the 13th highest rated offensive lineman in the game. Tiernan being above a 90 isn’t surprising considering he allowed just one sack over the last six games in 2024. Tiernan is also the only Northwestern o-lineman to be rated higher than an 80.
The strongest position group for this NU roster on CFB 26 is the halfback (running back) position. Joseph Himon II comes in at an 82 overall with 92 speed and 95 acceleration. He’s still a whole five overall points behind Cam Porter, who is rated as an 87. This was by far the biggest shock as Porter didn’t have his strongest season in 2024 and wasn’t rated this high in last year’s game.
Outside of Porter, the only other player to be rated an 85 or higher is edge rusher Aidan Hubbard. He’s had six sacks in each of the past two seasons. The other 80+ edge rusher for the ‘Cats is Anto Saka (82 overall), who may have the highest potential of any player on this team.
Funnily enough, the fourth highest rated player for NU, at an 83 overall, is a CPU Generated punter. Northwestern football has had a history of strong punting so despite A. Folk not being real, this speaks to the masses.
Nothing says Northwestern like the fourth highest rating going to a CPU generated punter pic.twitter.com/AvXUnQurPo
— Matthew Shelton (@M_Shelton33) July 7, 2025
Apart from halfback standing out, the cornerback and free safety positions steal the show on defense. Spring practice standout Josh Fussell leads the CB group as an 82 overall with 91 speed, Ore Adeyi is coming off injury yet still lands at an 80 overall. Braden Turner sits right behind him as a solid 79. Robert Fitzgerald at free safety is tied with Fussell as an 82 overall with other spring standout Damon Walters earning a 79 overall rating.
Another player making the top page on the Northwestern roster is linebacker and ‘Cats 2024 tackle leader Mac Uihlein. Uihlein is poised to take a step even further, but for now he sits at an 81 overall.
Despite NU having a 91 overall and well rounded halfback and defensive back rooms in this game, seeing an 82 overall quarterback before the season even starts is a sight to behold. SMU transfer Preston Stone immediately puts himself towards the top of the ‘Cats roster in CFB 26 as he has proven that he can ball.
All in all, Northwestern ends up as a 78 overall rated team. While still near the bottom of the Big Ten, this is higher than many non-power conference schools (and even some of the Power 4). Side note, Willy the Wildcat is in this year’s rendition of the game.