Madden 26: How Will the Game Handle Two-Way Star Travis Hunter?

Madden 26, the latest entry in the iconic NFL simulation sports game franchise, is due to come out in just a couple of short months, and one of the most intriguing talking points is how exciting new rookies will look in the game. Typically, rookies will be rated conservatively, as the league simply has no idea exactly how college draftees will perform to start their professional careers. That said, Madden has also never had to contend with a two-way star like Travis Hunter. So what exactly can gamers expect to see of the new Jacksonville Jaguars player in this season’s edition of Madden?

Madden 26 Approaching New Territory With Travis Hunter

Travis Hunter, for those who do not know, was selected second overall in the 2025 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played both WR and CB for the Colorado Buffaloes. Hunter did not just play the positions, though; he played them at the highest caliber possible. He was considered one of the best in the country at both positions, which ultimately won him a clear Heisman trophy award. Hunter made it very clear he intended to play on both sides of the ball in the NFL, and the Jaguars have vocally committed to allowing it. Given he has played no games yet, though, we have no idea what that will entail.

In essence, EA Sports developers for Madden 26 are going to have to do a bit of guesswork at first. From early indications, Hunter will be given an offense-first role that subs in on defense in specific situations, but until we see that occur in practice, it is purely guesswork. That said, EA has had some experience with Hunter, given they had to create a package for him for their college game, College Football 25. They ultimately gave him 99 ratings on offense and defense. He played wideout on offense with high ratings across the board, but on defense, he was able to plug in well anywhere in the secondary.

So what does that mean for the Madden franchise, especially Madden 26? It is safe to assume they will score him highly on both sides of the ball, though high is relative to his rookie peers as opposed to the league as a whole. Do not expect any high-nineties ratings off the rip. Operation Sports writer Robert Preston outlined several of the challenges Travis Hunter will face in his first year that could mute his success out of the gate, both in real life and in Madden, a bit.

• Pro competition: The most obvious jump up is in the level of players on the field. Even the most stacked college rosters are full of players who will never sniff an NFL roster, so some of Hunter’s attributes will go down by default just by translating to the higher grading curve of the NFL.
• Pro playbooks: Another consideration is the more complicated schemes used in NFL offenses and defenses. On an attribute level, this may show up in a lowering of some mental stats. It also creates an interesting test for designers when building a playbook for the Jaguars to include plays which take advantage of Hunter’s unique talents.
• Scheme usage: Because we are not yet sure how the Jaguars will be using Hunter, we can’t be positive how that will impact his rating in the new Madden. EA will no doubt be monitoring news out of Jaguars offseason work, and it would not be a surprise for some of the in-season updates to also affect him and his ratings.

In essence, temper expectations. Hunter is a phenomenal player and athlete, will immense, unheard-of talent. But he is still a rookie in one of the toughest leagues in all of sports. Madden 26 will reflect that, so players who choose the Jaguars will have to work through some growing pains with Hunter, just like the real team will in the NFL.

Final Thoughts

Travis Hunter is a generational player. It is a fresh and new situation to have someone who not just plays both sides of the ball, but plays it at an elite level. The closest comp is Shohei Ohtani in the MLB, who is also elite on both offense and pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, which has made him a perennial MVP candidate.

Given Hunter won a Heisman in college, it is entirely possible he could find himself in MVP discussion like Ohtani at some point in his career. But unlike Ohtani, Hunter has some growth still to do. He will be a thrill to play as in Madden 26, but he will still have time to work out his craft, and the Jaguars will have time to work out their usage of him as well.