EA Sports College Football 26 review: Sophomore season

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Last year, EA Sports College Football 25 ignited enthusiasm among sports enthusiasts by reviving the long-dormant series after a 12-year absence. Its impressive financial performance and favorable critical reception made it an obvious addition to EA’s lineup of annual sports titles. This year, EA Sports College Football 26 has debuted, continuing the tradition of delivering an enjoyable football simulation experience, albeit without making significant leaps to distinguish itself from its predecessor.

A gameday tradition

In last year’s game, EA Sports placed great importance on the unique college atmosphere found only in collegiate football, setting it apart from the NFL. This year, they have strengthened this aspect even more in CFB 26, with an increased number of mascots, fight songs, and program-specific introductions. These aesthetic enhancements aim to deepen players’ immersion in the electrifying college football experience on a Saturday, making it crucial for future versions to continue emphasizing this distinct college ambiance.

In College Football 26, many impressive upgrades are seen more off-field rather than on it. For instance, the game now features dynamic lighting that changes based on the time of day, month, and location. This was a static element in College Football 25, which was often unnoticed. However, the difference becomes strikingly apparent as you explore various stadiums in College Football 26.

In this revised version of College Football 26, many authentic coaches take over the sidelines instead of generic ones. You might spot familiar faces like Kirby Smart from Georgia and Ryan Day from Ohio State, who exhibit abilities that mirror their real-world talents. However, it’s worth noting that some high-profile names, such as Deion Sanders and Bill Belichick, are missing from the game, despite being popular topics of discussion among college football enthusiasts.

In the trenches

Regarding the gameplay enhancements in College Football 26, there are several minor adjustments that might not seem like major upgrades at first glance, but they offer significant quality-of-life improvements for dedicated players who spend countless hours on these games. One of the most significant changes is the ability to swap individual players during a play before the snap. This feature is particularly useful in conjunction with the Wear and Tear system that gradually deteriorates the health of frequently used players, such as a running back who has been handed the ball four times in a row. Instead of having to pause the game or alter formations, you can now quickly substitute this player by tapping the right D-pad button prior to the snap. The user interface then clearly displays each player’s Wear and Tear status along with their available substitutes, making it easy to manage your team during the heat of the game.

There are numerous fresh animations happening all over the field, enhancing the gameplay and giving it a new product feel. However, some of these animations can be quite irritating, such as receivers awkwardly flapping their arms after getting hit while catching the ball. Despite this, the new hit and finesse move animations have elicited audible reactions from me, indicating there’s a lot of novelty here. The developers have also included an option to attempt one-handed catches, which is risky but thrilling when playing against friends.

Among the enhancements in gameplay, players can now execute juke and spin maneuvers from the backfield as quarterbacks, and there’s a plethora of fresh plays and formations to explore. Additionally, you might come across a new Heisman tier for skills, which becomes active when a player with top-tier abilities builds up momentum. Witnessing these abilities kick in can be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking, depending on whether you’re playing offense or defense.

EA Sports has revamped several positions and their roles within them significantly. For instance, the MLB (Middle Linebacker), LOLB (Outside Linebacker, Land Over Land), and ROLB (Outside Linebacker, Sea Over Land) positions are no longer used. Instead, they’ve been replaced by Mike, Sam, and Will linebackers. In terms of players like running backs or wide receivers, you’ll encounter new roles such as “East/West Playmaker” and “Gadget.” Some of these new roles provide more clarity about a player’s best use, but others seem to be just rephrased versions of the existing roles. It feels like changes have been made for the sake of change.

The program comes first

My preferred method for enjoying College Football Games is Dynasty, and this year’s version comes with some updates. One noticeable alteration is that coach customization has been extended to include a variety of new aesthetic choices. Additionally, your coach will now be visible on the right side of the Dynasty screen, a minor cosmetic adjustment.

One aspect I genuinely appreciate is the addition of an extensive Dynasty history screen that allows you to view the yearly award winners and National Championship champions for each season. The online Dynasty league I played with my friends in CFB 25 spanned over 20 seasons, filled with countless remarkable players and moments that have faded into memory as the years passed. It’s fantastic now to be able to reminisce about the 3-star running back who went on to win the Heisman Trophy a decade ago. The incorporation of a Trophy Room is also an excellent method for preserving your gaming history, and it extends beyond just Dynasty mode.

The hiring process has undergone some modifications; now, when you’re on the recruitment screen, the game clearly indicates which roles are open and which ones you have already set targets for. Although it’s more streamlined than last year, I find the recruitment menus a bit sluggish, as if the game requires a moment to process each time I move to a new position or allocate hours to a player.

Humble beginnings

The popular Career Mode in Road to Glory (CFB) has undergone a significant update, introducing a shortened high school season for players to participate in. This experience will help determine where you’ll attend college, as schools will evaluate your performance. Based on their specific requirements and expectations, they will express the level of interest they have in recruiting you.

This year’s Road to Glory left me feeling let down. The new high school storyline is quite tedious, primarily because the tasks it presents often seem illogical. For instance, a school might ask you to throw a long pass for a touchdown in the next game, but if your quarterback is a “pure runner” type, your accuracy for deep passes will be poor. This inconsistency is problematic, especially when you’re trying to play conservatively during a game and the game is urging you to take unnecessary risks. It disrupts the immersion and can be quite harsh. By the end of high school, I was eager to advance to college, but at least the hat-selection ceremony was enjoyable.

In college, you’ll find yourself managing both athletic activities and academic responsibilities. This aspect was present last year and I found it engaging. However, this year offers more interactions, but most scenarios only provide absurd response options. Should I study for my upcoming test to gain bonus points or skip it for a humorous character quote? It’s a dilemma! Many situations are like this—where the sensible choice is clear, yet the alternative might yield an amusing remark from an unfamiliar character. The decisions don’t require much thinking, which makes the off-campus activities seem more like unnecessary additions.

Huddle up

In my evaluation of College Football 25 (as well as several Madden reviews), I’ve expressed indifference towards Ultimate Team, which is essentially a mechanism for microtransactions and fear-of-missing-out gimmicks. If you find enjoyment in participating in that never-ending race, you might also appreciate this year’s CUT. Until EA alters their approach significantly and redesigns this mode from scratch, I remain uninterested.

Although I had reservations about certain aspects, College Football 26 significantly surpasses its predecessor, College Football 25. The minor enhancements, such as the innovative Dynamic Substitutions and enhanced Dynasty elements, have added a lot of value to my gaming experience. For now, it appears that this franchise might avoid the repetitive cycle that Madden has been stuck in for quite some time, offering more excitement in the realm of College Football.

This assessment pertains to the Xbox Series X edition of EA Sports College Football 2026. You can currently obtain EA Sports College Football 2026 on both Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 platforms.

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2025-07-24 02:28