Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney's personality is exuded on the cover of EA Sports’ highly anticipated College Football 27 video game. Toney is captured posing in the middle, his hands ready for the catch. He wears a nose strip adorned with the acronym G.A.B.O.S.—an unlikely fashion piece that would not only serve as a mantra, but a sartorial statement cemented in his everyday look. “It’s a lifestyle—Game Ain’t Based on Sympathy,” Toney said of the phrase. “I feel like I have my own style,” he tells Teen Vogue. “I wouldn’t look at anybody else—like ‘Oh, he’s putting on [this brand], so I gotta put this on, too,’ or that I have to meet the same standard they’re at. I just want to be myself, for real.”
Along with Toney, two other players were handpicked to grace the cover: Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore and Ole Miss Rebels running back Kewan Lacy. Similarly, the up-and-comers let their personal aesthetic shine: Moore appears cool and calm with a football in hand, while Lacy flashes a diamond-studded Cheshire grin—“just one way” he says he can be himself on and off the field. “I like to be comfortable when it comes to my style and just being who I am,” Moore adds. “That’s the same approach I take to the field and staying loose. My personal style lets me express the way I feel.”
Athletes have long been considered celebrities in their own right. However, the sartorial stakes are higher than ever before. Like basketball and Formula 1, tunnel walks often rival the catwalks. Among the best-dressed players in recent years alone are Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end (and Taylor Swift’s fiancé) Travis Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, and New York Jets quarterback and Diallo cofounder Tyrod Taylor. It’s not uncommon to see athletes at major fashion events. New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. earned a spot in the coveted front rows of fashion week, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley walked the runway for Hermès, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson attended the Met Gala, just to name a few. And, fashion isn’t the only avenue for self-expression. Take Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who’s known for uprooting gender norms in the sport by painting his nails before every game. He donned a colorful manicure on the Madden NFL 27 cover.
While the pros are equipped with an army of stylists and glam squads—including the NFL’s first-ever fashion editor, Kyle Smith—the incoming class of rookies is just getting started. At the covers’ official reveal event in Chicago, Moore, 21, stands tall in a beige loungewear set, his hair worn in a ‘fro for the occasion. Toney, 18, dons a white tee with his gold “75” chain—symbolizing his viral 75-yard touchdown against North Carolina State University in 2022—falling at the center of his chest. Lacy, 19, is dressed in a white Supreme zip-up jacket and khakis, with his grillz on display.
For Moore and Lacy, their foray into fashion is minimal at most. “Usually, I wear whatever unless there’s an event. That’s when I have to dress up,” Lacy says. “I feel like there’s no pressure to dress up. I’m not trying to impress anybody. I wear whatever catches my eye. I try to get pieces I like, and over time, they just come together for me.” Location plays a huge part; on most days, Moore opts for relaxed outfits in the quiet college town of Eugene, Oregon. “In my everyday life, I’m wearing pajamas or something along those lines. You’ll most likely find people wearing Nike or Dr. Martens. Nothing too crazy. We don’t really dress up as much [in Oregon].”
But on the opposite coast, Toney is going above and beyond with his wardrobe—though, he’s a self-proclaimed gatekeeper when it comes to revealing his go-to brands. “I don’t want to say the brands. I like gatekeeping because people are going to start wearing them,” Toney laughs. “But alright: I’m a fan of Paly, ERD, Chrome Hearts, and Better With Age. All the expensive stuff.”
As these college athletes prepare to go pro in a new era of fashionable football players, style may not be as much of an afterthought as it once was, but it’s not exactly on their checklists either. For now, they’re basking in the moment. When asked about managing expectations as the next generation of football, their mentality is already unbelievably iron-clad. “Pressure is a privilege,” Moore says. “So you’ve got to enjoy and embrace it.” Lacy takes on a similar mantra: “I just take everything day by day,” he says. “I don’t feel like there are any expectations from anybody. I try to make [my mom] proud the best I can. I try to be as successful as possible by not making the wrong decisions.”
Gameplay access for EA Sports’ College Football 27 is available on July 2, 2026, for MVP+ Membership subscribers.
