Deion Sanders and Bill Belichick Turn Heads After Declining EA Sports College Football 26 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After a 12-year hiatus, the EA Sports’ College Football franchise returned to historic fan fare. College Football ’25 was the biggest video game debut of the year. With over 6 million users in its first year back.
One of the notable takeaways from 2025 was the volume of users who chose to play with the Colorado Buffaloes. If the current decision holds, those fans looking forward to playing with CU and the updated rosters will notice a significant omission. Deion Sanders and first year North Carolina Head Coach will not be represented in the 2026 iteration of the game.
As reported by Chris Vannini of The Athletic, both Coach Prime and Coach Belichick have chosen to not agree to allow EA Sports to use their name, image and likeness in the 2026 version of their ‘Dynasty Mode’. This is not a new concept. Michael Jordan refused such consent with EA regarding the NBA Live franchise for most of his playing career. Belichick not opting in is very much on brand for the GOAT, who has been noticeably absent from the Madden franchise since 2002.
No Deion Sanders or Bill Belichick among the real coaches in #CFB26, as expected.
Belichick didn’t do Madden, either. pic.twitter.com/GPkl3lcX87
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) July 7, 2025
EA Sports had the arduous task of getting the consent needed from each coach individually. As opposed to the process to secure players name, image and likeness which is much simpler.
In both cases, Sanders and Belichick chose not to opt into such an arrangement. However, like Jordan and NBA Live, that does not stop EA from creating a character that in every way suggests names like Jordan, Sanders or Belichick. In the case of Jordan, the player’s name was “No. 23”, he was from North Carolina, he was 6-foot-6, and an elite shooting guard. Same situation with College Football ’26.
The coach representing Colorado is “Kirk Patrick”, an elite recruiter who runs a spread offense and has a 4-2-5 base defense. Sounds a lot like Coach Prime without using his name. Bill Belichick will be represented by “Hector Luna” who runs a “multiple” offense and a 3-4 base defense. Which also sounds a lot like Bill Belichick.
Related: EA Sports College Football 26: Top 100 Players Revealed
During a Well Off Media video, there was a conversation between Coach Prime and CU Equipment manager Michael Smith last year. Smith hinted at the potential with EA Sports if they “put a deal together.” Sanders, never one to miss an opportunity, gazed into the camera to say, “EA Sports, we do business”. It would seem the video game producer was unable to put together a ‘respectable offer’.
Related: Deion Sanders Fired Up in First Appearance Since Before NFL Draft
Sanders and Belichick are arguably the two most “popular” coaches in College Football in 2026. Their inclusion in such a popular game would suggest a ‘significant’ offer is required as EA would benefit greatly from their inclusion in the game. A game that strives to deliver realism will have to do so without two of the biggest names in the sport.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.