Topps 2026 Bowman University Best Football: $239.99 presale, 94-card auto set
Topps' 2026 Bowman University Best Football reportedly pairs a 100-card base set with a 94-card autograph series, with an estimated release date of October 30, 2026.
Topps' 2026 Bowman University Best Football reportedly opened Hobby box presales at $239.99 on October 5, 2026, with an estimated release date of October 30, 2026. The checklist is reportedly built around a 100-card base set and a 94-card autograph series. All details below come from community and press reporting; no official Topps source is cited.
What the product is
According to reports, this Topps release pairs the Bowman University lineup with the familiar Bowman's Best design, and its focus is college athletes who earn money through NIL deals. Arch Manning and CJ Carr are among the featured players.
The checklist is said to span 81 colleges and universities, along with two high schools: Firebaugh High School and Isidore Newman School. Two elite names also get cards from their high school days.
Box format and pricing
A Hobby box reportedly holds 4 packs of 10 cards, and a case holds 12 boxes. Each box contains 4 autographs and 8 inserts.
Presales started at $239.99. For the previous year's release, Hobby boxes were $239.99 at presale and $249.99 on release day. A final release-day price for this year is not announced yet. Marketplace presale listings for the Hobby box reportedly range from $315.99 to $409.00, with examples at $324.99, $329.95, $339.99, and $359.00.
Base set and parallels
Card #1 is Lotzeir Brooks (Alabama) and card #100 is Bryce Underwood (Michigan). CJ Carr (Notre Dame) is #49.
Base parallels reportedly run: Refractor, Shimmer Refractor, Yellow Lazer Refractor /250, Aqua Lava Refractor /199, Pink Lava Refractor /175, Blue Refractor /150, Blue X-Fractor /150, Green Mini-Diamond /99, Purple Lava Refractor /75, Gold Refractor /50, Gold Lava Refractor /50, Orange Mini-Diamond /25, Teal Refractor /15, Black Refractor /10, Red Refractor /5, and a SuperFractor 1/1.
Inserts and case hits
On the insert side, Best of Mascots is new, while Send the House, a nod to the game Twister, comes back.
Reportedly, one refreshed Best of the Best or Campus Crests card turns up in each case. In every other case, you instead find either a short-printed Best of High School Tribute insert, showing teenage versions of Josh Allen and Peyton Manning, or a Best of Stadiums insert.
Autographs
The core signature series is Best of 2026 Autographs: 94 cards, on-card signatures, and limited parallels. Known codes include BOA-AMA Arch Manning (Texas) and BOA-CJC CJ Carr (Notre Dame). The full autograph checklist is not announced yet.
Parallels run Aqua Lava Refractor /199, Pink Lava Refractor /175, Blue Refractor /150, Green Mini-Diamond /99, Purple Lava Refractor /75, Gold Refractor /50, Orange Refractor /25, Teal Refractor /15, Black Refractor /10, Red Refractor /5, SuperFractor 1/1, and Printing Plates 1/1.
Beyond that, the autograph lineup features Big Kahuna Autographs with a Hawaiian theme, plus Quad Autographs and Hexagon Autographs, both new. Dual Autographs return, Prospect Relic Autographs include game-used memorabilia, and Behind the Seams Dual Relic Autographs carry swatches worn by the players.
What to know before release
The estimated date lines up with another Topps release reported for the same day: 2026 Topps Chrome Samurai Japan Baseball also carries an estimated October 30, 2026 date.
- Note October 30, 2026 as the estimated date.
- Expect 4 autographs and 8 inserts in every Hobby box, with a refreshed Best of the Best or Campus Crests card in each case.
- Last year's Hobby boxes were $239.99 at presale and $249.99 on release day.
The final release-day price and the full autograph checklist are not announced yet.
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