EA College Football 26 released its covers today with the obvious goal of including the variety represented by college football. Over 40 teams are represented on the two covers, and some are repeated on both. However, what you don't see is any reference to Wisconsin—not in the fans, coaches, players, mascots, or even flags. There's not a Badger in sight.
You can see for yourself below:
Did the #Badgers get snubbed from both covers???? https://t.co/bFaSWGrzKe
— Cam Wilhorn (@CamWilhorn) May 27, 2025
Wisconsin left off the cover art for College Football 26
While you may be thinking, "Win more, and you can be included," there are other programs in there that weren't all that impressive last year. USC and West Virginia are great examples. You also have a random MAC school in there with a Toledo fan.
Now, maybe it's just being nitpicky to harp about something so small, especially with other schools like Illinois not being featured, and they seem to be everyone's favorite Big Ten talking point for next season. But it's another reminder of Wisconsin's fall from grace.
It's still a top-25 fanbase and school, but it's not even close to a top-25 football program, and that needs to change. When you think of College Football, Wisconsin should be a team you think of. To be completely excluded is a reminder that whoever was designing the covers thought of Toledo before Wisconsin. That's just frustrating.
The only way to change that is to do it with winning and to remind the world that Wisconsin is an elite football program. Luke Fickell needs to right the ship or move along because it's a sad reality that Wisconsin is not relevant enough to be included in a cover art that has nearly 50 programs in it.
The 2026 season may be full of giants that need to be defeated, but it's set up to shock the world and be relevant again. On Wisconsin!