Penn State football will take the No. 4 spot in the initial EA Sports rankings for College Football 26, the video game publisher announced on Friday. The Nittany Lions are behind Alabama, Texas, and Ohio State.

The official Top 10 Overall Teams in #CFB26 pic.twitter.com/Zxod0PzS2b

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Penn State’s overall is set for 88, the same rating the team had last year at the launch of College Football 25. Penn State is joined by Big Ten foes Ohio State and Oregon in the top 10.

This year’s 88 overall does not mean that EA Sports feels the Nittany Lions come into the year at the same rating, but rather the company took a more conservative approach to teams’ ratings this year.

In last year’s edition of the game, an 88 put Penn State at No. 9 firmly behind teams like Georgia (95), Ohio State (93), and Oregon (93). This time around, the highest-rated team, Alabama, is an 89 overall, with the next seven teams at an 88.

The most surprising rating comes from Alabama at the No. 1 spot after finishing No. 17 in the final AP poll in the 2024 season.

EA Sports also released Penn State’s offensive and defensive overalls, which both made the top three.

The Nittany Lions sit tied at the No. 1 spot in terms of offensive ratings with a 91. Texas, Ohio State, and Arizona State are the only other teams in the country with the highest rating.

The most explosive offenses in College Football 26 are here! #CFB26 | @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/EC8BWh8f2X

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On the defensive end, Penn State is tied for the No. 2 spot with Texas at 94 overall. The Nittany Lions are behind only Alabama, which is a 96, heading into the year.

The best defenses in the game, led by the Crimson Tide #CFB26 | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/bw3nn5KzCj

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College Football 26 will release to the public on Thursday, July 10, but those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition or MVP Bundle will have access on Monday, July 7.