Last year signaled the return of EA’s collegiate football franchise for the first time in over a decade. College Football 25 was not just a big success; it was one of the best sports games of 2024. Like a standout freshman bursting onto the scene, College Football 25 was a pleasant surprise, but College Football 26 aptly demonstrates it wasn’t just beginner’s luck, delivering an equally impressive sophomore effort.
The on-the-field action is as good as video game football gets. Choosing from the vastly expanded playbook, receiving the snap, scanning the field as the pocket slowly collapses, and getting off a pass just before the rushers overtake your line is ceaselessly thrilling. Similarly, improved route defense and unique AI for each QB drove me to love each white-knuckled defensive stand; exhaling as the ball falls harmlessly to the ground, signaling my opponent’s failed comeback attempt is an unrivaled sense of relief.
The feeling of momentum as you march your offense down the field or sack the opposing quarterback multiple times in a drive is palpable, made even more apparent through the well-illustrated college pageantry and the famously rowdy crowds. I love how the College Football series plays with nerves when in a loud, hostile crowd, as some players get rattled, some confuse the play call, and others can’t hear you if you call an audible at the line.
That pageantry and rowdiness carry into the traditions, with energetic crowd sing-alongs of songs like “Mr. Brightside” or “Enter Sandman” hammering home the electric stadium atmosphere. Though the cheerleaders and fans sometimes look alien during their closeups, I appreciate every small touch Tiburon added to create an authentic collegiate experience. This includes the addition of various real-world coaches, complete with play calling that mimics their real-world tendencies.
It all adds up to an incredibly immersive experience, complemented by a strong commentary team. However, they clearly don’t have enough names in their audio bank, so you should get used to them referring to most players by their position rather than their name. Also, they sometimes lack context for why a team would run the clock down or call a timeout in a specific situation, which removes a layer of immersion.
The strong gameplay and pageantry permeate each mode, whether you’re engaging in a one-off against friends online or taking part in long-form modes, which are my typical destinations in sports games. Dynasty delivers a streamlined, fantastic experience of running the college football program of your choice. Though you’re in charge of several off-the-field responsibilities, on-the-field performance is as important as ever, as each team jockeys for a spot in the playoffs. In my first season, I relished the opportunity to take the unranked UCLA on a run to a spot in the playoffs, only to experience the harsh sting of defeat as the magical season came to a devastating end in the first round against a powerful Notre Dame squad.
Although that loss was a tough pill to swallow, I had leveraged the revamped scouting tools to have an optimistic offseason. Thanks to the improved feedback to your actions, I landed a five-star lineman to help protect my QB, and several four and three-star recruits to replace players who were graduating or testing the Transfer Portal. Even though I had leveled up my coach’s persuasion to try to prevent players from leaving, I was hit hard. Thankfully, it seems like other schools were too, and I was able to secure more quality players to bolster both sides of the ball.
I have an attachment to my Dynasty team that will cause me to play a few more seasons, but I am also enjoying the Road to Glory experience of bringing my own player up through his college career. Starting with making a high school highlight reel to impress recruiters, then working to secure scholarships from your top schools is fun, but the real mode starts once you reach your college of choice. The continued upward trajectory of your career, going from a player fighting up the depth chart to a Heisman contender, is a compelling reason that continually tempts me to play that mode instead of Dynasty every time I start College Football 26.
Other modes, like College Ultimate Team and the online suite received incremental improvements as well; I like the new online scouting option that tells you your opponent’s tendencies before you step on the field, and I had a great time completing challenges in Ultimate Team and quickly building my roster, but I will always spend the most time in the more traditional long-form modes.
College Football 26 didn’t throw out the playbook from its first year back, but it didn’t need to. Instead, iterative improvements and quality-of-life adjustments build upon an already strong foundation. Like my Dynasty team, EA Sports’ newest series is quickly amassing prestige as one of the best sports franchises today, and College Football 26 only helps its case.
