"College Football 26": A touchdown, but the extra point doesn't stick

Kim Muntinga

17.7.2025

Translation: machine translated

Pictures: Kim Muntinga

"EA Sports College Football 26" impressively brings back the college atmosphere in its second year after a long absence. However, in addition to a gripping presentation and a deeper dynasty mode, there are a few flaws that spoil the overall impression.

«Mr Brightside» booms over the stadium speakers. Around 110,000 people in the Big House in Ann Arbor jump to the beat, the entire stadium bobs like a giant living creature. The score is 31:27 with four seconds left on the clock. Ball at the opponent's eight-yard line. I call a slant route to my slot receiver. Snap. Throw from freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood to Anthony Simpson. Touchdown. Michigan beats Ohio State. The game is mine. And the crowd goes completely nuts.

Moments like that are why I love college football. It's more than just football. It's an event, a religion, an explosion of colours, marching bands and traditions. Rivalries like The Game between Michigan and Ohio State divide states, break family bonds - and that's exactly what «EA Sports College Football 26» finally captures again.

The series was quiet for a long time. Until last year. After an eleven-year break, «EA Sports College Football 25» was released. And it hit like a touchdown pass in overtime. According to EA Sports, it was the «best-selling sports game in US history». More than 2.2 million players bought the Deluxe Edition during the Early Access phase, even before the official release. In addition, more than 600,000 other users played via other access points such as EA Play. No wonder: the fans were ravenous.

Personally, I really enjoyed «College Football 25». It felt fresh, faster, wilder: simply more college than «Madden». The foundation was right. But at the same time, the game also had noticeable teething problems. Dynasty mode still lacked the depth I was hoping for. A lot of things also still seemed very cumbersome.

«College Football 26» aims to deliver exactly that: more authenticity, deeper modes and a better presentation. Producer Ben Haumiller promised in advance that «had prioritised the wishes of the Community in particular» - for example with the dynasty mode, the transfer portal or the individual stadium atmosphere.

Gameplay: between the pitch and the sideline

If I had to describe how «College Football 26» plays, I would say: It feels like college football should feel. Fast, wild, full of surprises - and above all, never static. The latter is my main criticism of «Madden».

I already had this feeling with part 25 or earlier with NCAA Football 14. «College Football 26» goes one better, especially in terms of animations. Tackles look more powerful, ball carriers often fight their way a yard or two further, even if a defender is already on them. Blocks look more fluid and there are small details such as stumbling after a hit that bring the game to life. Overall, everything feels a little more rounded and organic than last year.

The running game feels beautifully physical. Power backs burrow through the middle, while nimble speedsters suddenly pull along the line on the outside and turn a small gap into a huge space gain. I love these moments when a move seems to have been stopped. And then suddenly everything explodes.

Option plays are a real highlight for me. Run-pass options or classic read options still feel great. These brief moments of deciding whether to keep or pass the ball give me that college feeling that I love so much.

Of course, there are still little quirks. Every now and then a player does an involuntary pirouette after a tackle, or a lineman slips up and forgets his block. But overall, College Football 26 plays pleasantly smooth and, above all, lively. And for me, that's the essence of college football.

Road to Glory - from no-name to hero

My first stop: Road to Glory, the career mode. Here I start as a very young quarterback at a high school. Alternatively, I can also choose the position of running back, wide receiver, linebacker or cornerback. It starts with simple high school games in which I have to prove myself in different situations for potential colleges. To do this, I have to successfully master playful challenges. I also set my ten favourite universities.

Offers are gradually fluttering in from smaller or larger colleges: James Madison, UTSA, Purdue, Alabama, Oregon. I choose UTSA: the Roadrunners - Meep! Meep!» - and find myself in the middle of the biggest football region in America: Texas.

The story sequences are okay. A bit of social media, a few interviews, but it often seems more like decoration. I would have liked more drama. For example, real conflicts within the team or tough coaches shouting at me because I mess up a play. Instead, everything remains a bit soft-spoken.

In addition to my brand, training and leadership in the team, I have to pay attention to my academic performance. I'm not really convinced by the mode.

Dynasty Mode - the centrepiece

This is where the real gold lies for me. Dynasty Mode is the heart of the game. I take on the role of head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders and embark on a mammoth project: from underdog to college legend.

At the beginning I choose an archetype:

• Tactician (gameplay focus),
• Recruiter (talent acquisition),
• or Motivator (player development)

I opt for the Motivator. Each archetype has a talent tree that I can expand with XP. Later on, I unlock hybrid roles such as Talent Developer, Architect or Strategist, for example, or can raise the respective archetype to Elite level. There are also two extra talent trees, Program Builder and CEO.

Important: I can't fully develop everything. Even at level 100, I don't have enough XP for all the trees. So I have to plan strategically and choose my coordinators to match my archetype in order to get synergy bonuses.

The coaching carousel: with more than 300 real coaches

All in all, the coaching system has been overhauled: And yes, there are more than 300 real coaches in the game. From head coaches to coordinators: names like Kalen DeBoer (Alabama), Dabo Swinney (Clemson) or Brian Kelly (LSU) are included. I can sign them, lose them or coach against them.

The coaching carousel brings real dynamism to the game. After each season, coaches change teams, get fired or promoted. I've seen my OC go to a Group of 5 team as head coach after a strong season. I plan to play a non-conference game against him in the new season and follow his career closely.

Unfortunately, the system still has weaknesses. Some of the changes after the season seemed very illogical to me. For example, Steve Sarkisian suddenly signed with the Michigan Wolverines despite making the playoffs with the Texas Longhorns, even though they clearly missed the playoffs. In general, there is hardly a more coveted and better job at the moment than with the Longhorns.

High school recruiting: when dealbreakers make or break your season

The recruiting system has become even more complex this year. Unlike in the past, I can't just shoot points at talented players and hope that they will commit to my college at some point. Every player now brings so-called dealbreakers with them - tough conditions that have to be met for them to even consider coming to me and then staying later.

Some are desperate to be starters right away, others insist on a certain academic programme or want a team that plays bowl games all the time. And the exciting thing: These dealbreakers are dynamic. If I play a miserable season, players who previously had me high on their list suddenly jump ship. This forces me to constantly monitor my team status and adapt my recruiting strategy.

Transfer portal: And suddenly they're all gone

And that brings us to the transfer portal. This already existed in the 25-part. However, the implementation was rather poor. It was rare that I was able to recruit at least a handful of three-star players or better from the TP. In reality, the numbers look quite different: Last year alone, more than 3000 players signed up to the transfer portal.

This year, things look very different. The portal is full of interesting players, including some four- and five-star talent, who are looking to transfer universities for a variety of reasons. That can be a goldmine. But also my biggest nightmare. Because at the same time, I'm losing key starters to the portal because I couldn't fulfil their deal breakers (anymore). Maybe they want more playing time, a move to a bigger conference or simply better title chances.

I can even specify in the settings how big the waves of players in the transfer portal should be: from very few changes to a real exodus. This gives me the freedom to make my dynasty as chaotic or stable as I want it to be.

In short, Dynasty is the real star of «College Football 26» for me. It's more than a mode. It's a small football universe that revolves around every decision. The real college feeling pulsates here and that's exactly why I can hardly keep my hands off this mode. The developers have incorporated many quality-of-life improvements compared to its predecessor, including better overviews.

However, a few bugs have also crept in: In particular, changing a player's position causes their potential to be extremely downgraded. This is a drama for Dynasty Mode: position changes are extremely important. The developers need to react as quickly as possible.

Ultimate Team: Is it really necessary?

Ultimate Team is also represented in «College Football 26», but I refuse to support this mode. Microtransactions, trading card logic, artificial grind - none of that has any place in the college football cosmos. This game thrives on identity, tradition and programmes - not booster packs and fantasy lineups.

I'm not surprised that EA is adding the mode again. But it disappoints me every year. Whoever needs it, please. I'm out.

Presentation: College feeling gives you goosebumps

The biggest strength of «College Football 26» besides the Dynasty mode is the presentation. This is where the game really turns up the heat.

The White Out Game at Penn State's Beaver Stadium is an absolute goosebump moment for me every time. Over 100,000 people in white transform the stadium into a vibrant snowy landscape. Every seat bounces while «Zombie Nation» booms, the fans scream so loudly that my controller almost vibrates out of my hand. Even virtually, it feels so gigantic that it takes my breath away for a moment. Scenes like this make college football more than just sport for me. It's a spectacle.

But it doesn't stop at white waves. At Virginia Tech, the team runs into the stadium to «Enter Sandman» by Metallica. 65,000 people jump up and down rhythmically, the whole Lane Stadium shakes.

Each college brings its own style and rituals. Clemson runs through its tunnel and touches the famous Howard's Rock. Oklahoma takes to the field on the Sooner Schooner. All of these traditions are lovingly recreated and elevate the game to an emotional level unique to college football.

The stadiums look impressive, at least the big ones. The Big House, Death Valley, Bryant-Denny Stadium: all crammed with detail. Fans wear the colours of their universities, cheer on their teams and in the Rivalry Games, the place really boils over. However, their faces and animations often still look unkind.

Graphically, the game is at a good, but not revolutionary level. The player models are solid, but some faces still look a bit plastic-like. Especially with less prominent players, you realise that EA has saved on detail work. On the other hand, the uniforms, helmets and field designs are top notch. I especially love the shiny red helmets in the floodlights at Texas Tech.

The TV presentation is strongly orientated towards real broadcasts. Graphics, overlays and camera angles are successful, even if there is still room for improvement. Especially nice: In Rivalry Games, there are special logos, intros and graphics that emphasise the importance of the game.

«EA Sports College Football 26» has been available for Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S since 10 July. I tested the PS5 version.

Kim Muntinga

Editor

Kim.Muntinga@galaxus.de

My interests are varied, I just like to enjoy life. Always on the lookout for news about darts, gaming, films and series.

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