Colorado QB Kaidon Salter lands in EA Sports Top 20 Quarterbacks for CFB26

If you’re still wondering what kind of quarterback Kaidon Salter really is, EA Sports just gave you a pretty good idea.

The dual-threat dynamic Liberty transfer cracked the Top 20 quarterbacks in EA Sports College Football 26, landing at No. 15 overall with an 88 rating.

For a program that just said goodbye to Shedeur Sanders and lost explosive playmakers like Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., and LaJohntay Wester, the presence of Salter at QB1 provides something we need: hope.

From Liberty’s underdog to Boulder’s new alpha

You might not have watched a lot of Liberty football, but Salter’s numbers speak a language we all can understand.

His best season was 2023, where he accounted for 44 total touchdowns (32 passing, 12 rushing), over 3,900 total yards, and led the Flames to their first-ever undefeated regular season. He was named CUSA MVP, earned national player of the week honors twice, and broke school records along the way.

That same fire shows up in the film: he’s twitchy, fearless, and keeps plays alive with Vick-like escapability.

So, no, an 88 rating is earned.

And it puts the rest of the Big 12 on notice: Colorado is coming with a quarterback who knows how to win.

EA Ratings matter in 2025

Sure, you can shrug off video game rankings — unless you understand how much EA Sports College Football 26 is about real brand power in 2025.

Salter’s Top 20 QB ranking doesn’t just get fans excited to play as CU — it boosts visibility for the program nationally and puts money back into the school through NIL revenue-sharing built into the game’s model.

Think about it: the better Salter plays, the more people will use Colorado in the game. The more users pick CU, the more money flows back into the program. It’s the most fun economics class you’ll ever take.

But don’t forget about JuJu Lewis

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Colorado quarterback conversation without mentioning Julian “JuJu” Lewis — the five-star freshman who reclassified and looked like he belonged right away in spring ball.

Lewis has already said the right things about competing early. He’s got a huge arm and poise that’s rare for his age. Could Coach Prime give him reps early, maybe even a few packages? Don’t rule it out.

Salter’s still the clear QB1 going into August. But the future behind him looks strong — and pushing him in the right way.

Bigger than the game

The ranking and the ratings all point back to one thing: Colorado has a quarterback.

And that’s something we couldn’t confidently say after Sanders. Salter isn’t Shedeur — he’s a different kind of threat. More legs, a bit more risk, but just as much potential to take over a game.

Coach Prime built this roster to compete now. The offensive line is deeper and better. The skill positions are young but explosive. The defense is going to fly. The question was always quarterback.

Now we’ve got our answer. And so does EA Sports.

So when you boot up the game this July and scroll past the usual suspects — Arch Manning and Cade Klubnik — and see Kaidon Salter at No. 15, know this:

That’s not a fluke.

It’s a reflection of what Colorado has under center: a gamer, a leader, and hopefully the biggest surprise of the 2025 college football season.

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