College Football 27 is set to release (for MVP+) members on July 2. For the rest of the general population, the game will hit the shelves and online markets on July 9. The third iteration of the renewed, highly popular video game is bullish on the Buckeyes in 2026. With the game allowed to actually allow players’ name, image, and likeness, players get to opt in and get paid to do so. However, there are a few Ohio State players not in College Football 27. At least, that is for now. Players have been added after the initial launch in past years, so these things can change.
So, as of this article’s publishing, according to TeamCrafters.net, there are plenty of Buckeyes missing.
Ohio State Players Not In College Football 27
An Elite Offense
For the first time in the game’s history, a player will have a 99 rating – the highest individual rating one can have – at launch. That honor, predictably, belongs to Jeremiah Smith. Julian Sayin owns the second-best rating among quarterbacks with a 94.
The overwhelming majority of Ohio State players not in College Football 27 are bottom-of-the-roster players and walk-ons, naturally. However, this year, Ohio State is expecting a few players to make an impact who won’t be featured in the game.
On offense, the biggest names have to be Legend Bey, the budding superstar running back/Swiss Army Knife, and all freshmen receivers. There are replacement names that could be considered one-for-one swaps or placeholders, so we included them in parentheses. Some made-up players have different classes or measurements, so it’s not an exact science.
Overall, Ohio State has the second-best team with a 90 overall (behind Oregon‘s 91). On offense, the Buckeyes lead the way with a 92.
Here are the 26 offensive players missing, sorted by position and ordered alphabetically by their last names.
- QB Luke Fahey (Chase Davis III)
- RB Favour Akih
- RB Legend Bey (D.J. Cross)
- WR David Adolph (Rahmir Johnson)
- WR Nolan Baudo
- WR Brock Boyd
- WR Jerquaden Guilford (Rod Glover)
- WR Chris Henry Jr.
- WR De’Zie Jones (Sedrick Pittman-Jean)
- WR Jaeden Ricketts
- WR Brennen Schramm
- WR Ryan Seimetz
- WR Amari Valerio-Hudson
- TE Bennett Christian (Taylor Joiner)
- TE Max LeBlanc (Andre Hyatt)
- TE Brody Lennon
- TE Frankie McAlister (Jack Keenum)
- OL Deontae Armstrong
- OL Landry Brede
- OL Jake Cook
- OL Ian Gecse
- OL Julian Goines-Jackson
- OL Simon Lorentz
- OL Jaxon Powell
- OL Tucker Smith
- OL Mason Wilhelm
A Reloaded Defense
Ohio State lost quite a bit to the draft this offseason, so its rating for CFB27 is down to 88, good to tie Oklahoma and Texas for seventh-best.
This year’s unit is going to look very different. Between youth taking over and the litany of transfers, Matt Patricia has his work cut out for him. Of course, it was the same heading into 2025, and Ohio State had the best defense in the country, so Patricia has earned a little trust.
There are a few young players on defense who have not opted into the game. Some freshmen opted in, like Blaine Bradford and Cincere Johnson, so they’ll be fun to use. Also, Riley Pettijohn is going to be a player’s favorite defender.
Here are the 27 Ohio State players not in College Football 27 on defense…plus the special teamers (why does EA Sports hate long snappers?).
- EDGE Nate Riegle
- EDGE Epi Sitanilei (Alexander McGowan)
- EDGE Khari Wilder (Daylen Johnstone)
- DT Darryus McKinley
- DT Jamir Perez
- DT Emanuel Ruffin
- DT Damari Simeon
- DT Ashton Yeager
- LB Alec DelSignore
- LB Na’il Diggs Jr.
- LB Zach Hayes
- LB Ty Howard
- LB Eli Lee (Marcus Batiste)
- LB Braxton Rembert
- LB Eli Riggs (Blake Carney)
- LB CJ Sanna
- CB Glorien Gough
- CB Miles Lockhart (Trayvon Fuller)
- CB Amar’e Miller
- CB Jordan Thomas (P.J. Eugene)
- CB Jordyn Woods (Kodie Thompson Jr….is a stretch)
- SAF Simeon Caldwell
- SAF Jaystin Gwinn
- SAF Brenten “Inky” Jones (Tyrese Geathers)
- SAF Ryan Rudzinski
- SAF Deshawn Stewart (Ike Dent)
- SAF Gavin Thobe
- LS Landon Beal
- LS Brody Jenkins
- LS Dalton Riggs
- K Marcello Diomede
- K Cooper Peterson
- P Brady Young
Despite all of these Ohio State players not being in College Football 27, it can be assumed that the Buckeyes will be one of the more utilized teams in online play. Imagine how broken the Sayin-to-Smith is about to be.
Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
