The gaming world is buzzing about college basketball’s possible return to consoles, but not everyone’s happy with what they’re seeing. When a fan-made concept for “EA Sports College Basketball 26” featuring BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa hit social media, the reaction was swift and divided.
The excitement over a potential hardwood comeback quickly turned into frustration as gamers realized the concept looked suspiciously familiar.
Why Are Fans Calling the EA Sports College Basketball 26 Concept a ‘Copy-Paste Job?’
When basketball reporter Joe Tipton shared the concept and called it “insane,” the gaming community had plenty to say. The conceptual gameplay video by Carter Nagy showcased what “EA Sports College Basketball 26” might look like, complete with Dynasty mode and Ultimate Team features.
This EA College Basketball Video Game concept is insane 🔥
(Via @carter__nagy) pic.twitter.com/tBTe3v6EjW
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 30, 2025
The concept builds on the massive success of College Football 26, which brought college sports gaming back after a decade-long absence.
That success has sparked industry rumors about a basketball comeback, with insiders suggesting a potential 2028 release date. But fans weren’t impressed with what appeared to be recycled content from the football game.
What’s Behind the Gaming Community’s Mixed Reaction?
The response split right down the middle. While some celebrated the potential return of college basketball gaming after more than 15 years, others couldn’t get past the similarities to College Football 26.
The criticism started immediately. One user questioned the cover choice, asking, “Why is the cover athlete someone who hasn’t played college bball yet?” The concern centered on featuring prospects like Dybantsa over established college stars who’ve already proven themselves on the court.
only thing they got wrong is the cover player
— 🌵Micah Hudsons right hook🌵 (@lbk_enjoyer) July 30, 2025
The bigger issue was the apparent lack of basketball-specific innovation. One frustrated fan commented, “It’s literally just NCAAFB 26 with some different team names?” That sentiment echoed throughout the discussion, with gamers expecting unique features that capture basketball’s distinct culture and gameplay.
I hope it looks 10000x different than CFB
— Nick Bateman (CBB guru) (@nickbateman33) July 30, 2025
Another user wrote, “How is this insane it’s literally a exact copy of college football,” highlighting concerns about EA potentially taking shortcuts with basketball development.
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The frustration reached its peak with comments like this: “This is insane and it’s just the college football screens with the word football changed to basketball.”
“This is insane” and it’s just the college football screens with the the word football changed to basketball
— DG The Prophet (@DillonGarnette) July 30, 2025
The reaction reveals what basketball gaming fans really want: authentic innovation that captures the unique atmosphere and strategy of college hoops.
While the concept successfully reignited hope for EA’s basketball return, it also highlighted the community’s demand for something more than recycled football interfaces. The gaming world clearly craves a return to the hardwood, but they want it done right.
While a fan just created this concept, it isn’t a crazy assumption that the two games will share similarities. Still, it has been more than 15 years since EA Sports released a college basketball game, and fans are eager to see any product at all.
