Overview

• EA Sports College Football 27 releases game cover, featuring Oregon QB Dante Moore, Miami WR Malachi Toney, and Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy on the Standard Edition cover
  

• The Deluxe Edition expands the roster with Texas pass rusher Colin Simmons, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, and national championship-winning Indiana coach Curt Cignetti.

Malachi Toney | WR | Miami Hurricanes

Malachi Toney is the youngest of the 3 on the cover. Not only was he a true freshman this year, but Toney reclassified into Miami's 2025 recruiting class, meaning he began this season at just 17 years old, making him one of the youngest starters in college football.

The South Florida native turned that decision into something historic this year.

Toney led the FBS in receptions (109), receiving yards (1,211) and touchdowns (10) in 2025, and helped Miami reach the College Football Playoff championship game.

His coming-out party came early in the year with Toney torching Florida State for 107 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions inside Doak Campbell Stadium, in his first away game of his college career.

OUR TAKE

Heading into his sophomore season, Toney is already being discussed as one of the most dangerous receivers in the country.

His ability to slip the first tackle and showcase his speed at the second level makes him one of the nation's most electrifying returning players, and Miami made retaining him a top priority for the 2026 roster. Toney will certainly be Darian Mensah’s go-to weapon and a nightmare for opposing defenses.

As for NIL, the cover appearance could be transformational for Toney. His NIL valuation was already at ~$878,000 during the 2025 season, ranking among the top dozen receivers nationally, but his October deal with Hellstar PLUS landing on the cover of one of the most popular sports games ever made has pushed his valuation to $1.3M as of today, according to On3.

Expect more media attention and NIL deals for the young star during the 2026 season.

Kewan Lacy | RB | Ole Miss Rebels

Kewan Lacy's journey to the CFB 27 cover is a testament to patience, belief, and an absolutely punishing running style. Lacy began his career at Missouri in 2024 but played only six games before making the decision to transfer. That gamble paid off in historic fashion with the season he had this year.

In his first season at Ole Miss, Lacy led all of the FBS with 306 carries and led the SEC with 24 rushing touchdowns, racking up 1,567 yards at 5.1 yards per carry. He posted a career-high 224-yard game against Florida, and his 24 touchdowns set a conference high mark, earning him first-team All-American honors.

He also came up big in the most important moments of the season, helping Ole Miss to a 13-2 record and a deep CFP run before a Fiesta Bowl exit at the hands of Miami.

OUR TAKE

The biggest question surrounding Lacy this offseason wasn't whether he was good or not, it was whether he'd stay with Ole Miss. After Lane Kiffin departed for LSU, Lacy faced interest from other programs but recommitted to Ole Miss on January 5.

On3 ranked Lacy among the top college football players heading into 2026 with a valuation of $2 million, and there's little reason to think the production slows down. Expect a Heisman conversation if Ole Miss gets off to a hot start under new head coach Pete Golding.

In the NIL world, Lacy's marketability was already rising rapidly through 2025, but the CFB 27 cover puts him in a different stratosphere of name recognition. The Dallas native now has national brand exposure from millions of gamers that will now recognize him playing on Saturday’s, which will do wonders for his valuation.

Expect brand deals to come rolling in for the star RB as we approach the 2026 season.

Dante Moore | QB | Oregon Ducks

Dante Moore is one of college football's most fascinating figures: a generational prospect who keeps choosing the game over the bag. Moore began his career at UCLA, throwing for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions in nine games in 2023, before transferring to Oregon ahead of the 2024 season. Using a redshirt his first year at Oregon he backed up current NFL quarterback Dillon Gabriel which gave him time to learn and blossom into a star.

When he took over as the starter in 2025, the results were stunning. Moore threw for 3,565 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing 71.8% of his passes, leading Oregon to a 13-2 record and a CFP semifinal appearance.

Despite being widely projected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Moore shocked the football world in mid-January by withdrawing from the draft to return to Eugene for one final season.

OUR TAKE

Moore enters 2026 as arguably the most accomplished returning quarterback in the country, and the expectations in Eugene are nothing short of a national championship. Oregon enters the season ranked No. 2 in early polls, with Moore as the unquestioned centerpiece of everything the Ducks do offensively.

His decision to return already had massive NIL implications. Moore's NIL valuation sits at a whopping $5 million according to On3 and is the highest on Oregon's entire roster, with deals including Nike, Beats by Dre, and eBay.

Landing on the CFB 27 cover will only accelerate that stardom. Moore now has the kind of household recognition that transcends college football fans.

Expect his NIL valuation to push toward or beyond the $3M range before the season even kicks off, potentially making him one the highest paid players in all of college football. The sky the limit for a player who already left NFL first-round money on the table to win Oregon their first National Championship.

What we’re building at Sports Index

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