EA Sports College Football 26 Review

Fans crave college football. Following an 11-year break, EA’s collegiate football series made its comeback last year and swiftly set U.S. records as the highest-grossing sports game in history. That’s no minor achievement, yet EA Orlando isn’t complacent with EA Sports College Football 26. The newest installment in the series possesses its imperfections but ultimately enhances its predecessor in numerous ways, with modes like Dynasty, Road to Glory, and the game’s revamped focus on rivalries sharpening in on what distinguishes the college football experience from Madden and other professional sports titles.

All of this begins with the presentation. Whether it’s 100,000 fans belting out Mr. Brightside within The Big House or Virginia Tech’s players emerging from the tunnel to the resonating drums and iconic riffs of Enter Sandman, there’s remarkable attention to detail ensuring nearly all 136 institutions in the game feel both genuine and unique to their specific college customs, spectacle, and stadium ambiance. There are considerably more pre-game runouts than previously, with many of the smaller teams now entering the field with their unique rituals incorporated. Some of the larger teams’ runouts have also been updated from last year, enhancing the game’s pomp and circumstance by showcasing traditions like Oklahoma’s Sooner Schooner and South Carolina’s Cockaboose.

There are numerous new mascots, too, alongside fresh pre-game marching band formations that accompany an incredible soundscape of snare drums, trombones, and French horns that enhance each stadium’s energetic atmosphere. A few teams also have specific touchdown and turnover celebrations, rewarding each takeaway with a brief cutscene, such as Arizona piercing footballs with their turnover sword or a Georgia player donning their fierce pads.

Even evening matches feel significant, thanks to the inclusion of authentic light and drone shows that elevate the spectacle of these major confrontations. For example, the entire Bryant-Denny Stadium lights up in crimson before Alabama Crimson Tide games, while a squadron of drones displays Texas’s iconic Longhorn logo in the night sky. These moments frequently set the stage for fierce rivalry contests where school pride and championship ambitions are on the line.

Much like the spectacle and customs of each institution, rivalries are a cornerstone of college football, to the extent that EA Orlando has made certain these intense clashes are equally vital in College Football 26. There are over 80 rivalries featured, with distinct statistics, graphics, and commentary lines incorporated into the game’s broadcast package whenever you’re engaged in one. From the historic Minnesota vs. Wisconsin rivalry tracing back to 1890, to the Holy War between Utah and BYU, the legendary Red River Rivalry of Texas and Oklahoma, and the Army-Navy contest where both military branches clash on the field, nearly every rivalry you can imagine is highlighted.

Numerous of these games also put trophies at stake, like the Paul Bunyan Trophy presented to the victor of the Michigan vs. Michigan State match, or the Victory Bell from the Battle of Los Angeles. College Football 26 boasts a trophy room that monitors every rivalry trophy you’ve secured across each mode, along with others like the Heisman and National Championship. Aside from offering an incentive to participate in every rivalry game, you’re also rewarded with a brief account of the trophy’s history and significance within the fabric of college football.

Naturally, this wouldn’t bear much weight if the on-field gameplay wasn’t adequate, but College Football 26 successfully sidesteps the sophomore slump with a greatly broadened playbook, unique AI for quarterbacks, enhanced animations, and refined pass coverage, among other advancements–it’s about as optimal as video game football can achieve. The tempo is somewhat slower than last year, and ball carrier maneuvers don’t feel as explosive, yet the increased responsiveness to player movement makes it easier to spot gaps in the offensive line and elude pursuing defenders.

Quarterbacks also function similarly to their real-life counterparts, with each one fitting into a specific archetype, such as Backfield Creator or Dual Threat. You can leverage their physical features and abilities when managing one of these players yourself, but it also makes matchups against these QBs far more dynamic when you’re competing against them. Someone like Drew Allar stands out as a Pocket Passer, delivering accurate throws even under duress, whereas Blake Horvath exemplifies Navy’s run-centric offense as a Pure Runner, frequently using his legs to gain yards instead of his arm. Top quarterbacks process reads noticeably faster too, and height is a consideration for shorter quarterbacks who struggle to see over the towering linemen–with receiver icons not appearing until the player is in view.

Speaking of which, receivers have seen significant enhancement as well, returning to the ball and contesting far more catches, while a myriad of new plays expands the offense with fresh motion types, run-pass options, and gadget packages that differentiate each team’s playing style. The sole drawback is that most of the playbook isn’t included in the coach’s suggestions when selecting a play, hence you must actively search out the rest to avoid being recommended

the same few performances repeatedly.

On the defensive end of the field, you possess greater authority over your pass rush by being able to call stunts at the play call interface and through the pre-play menu, empowering you to pressure the quarterback without depending on individual successes from your front four. You can also modify the depth and coverage of your safeties prior to the ball being snapped, and man coverage is significantly tighter and more efficient than previously, especially if you have a locking corner on your lineup.

Interceptions are tougher to achieve, however, due to a modification that requires defenders to keep their gaze on the ball to intercept it. The era of over-the-shoulder interceptions and defenders with eyes behind their heads is over. Now you’ll observe defenders turning their heads ahead of the ball’s arrival if they’re attempting to make a pick. If they fail to do so and focus on the receiver instead, you will want to try and knock the ball away before someone like Ryan Williams tries to snag it. Offense remains paramount—as it should be in a college football game—but the defensive aspect is now more diverse and gratifying than in the previous year’s installment.

Dynasty mode has also seen enhancements, making it more challenging and, consequently, much more rewarding to transform a small college program into a consistent contender. Recruitment is vital for every team, as you must perpetually integrate new talent as your seniors graduate and depart, but the highest-rated recruits are not as willing to join mediocre teams as they were in the past. Instead, you need to unearth gems in lesser-known places and leverage your geographical advantages to surpass other teams in acquiring talent that will enhance your victory count. It’s a more intricate process, but one that has been streamlined as well, featuring a “team needs” list at the top of the interface and additional information on what techniques like Sway actually do to assist in persuading a prospect to enroll in your institution.

The transfer portal has also been broadened, with more players looking to change teams during the offseason, reflecting the new landscape of college football. Nevertheless, there is currently an issue where players may seek to move on due to insufficient playing time even if they’ve participated in every snap. This could be a mislabeling, and they may simply desire to join a better school, but the game does not distinguish this.

In Road to Glory, the most substantial alteration this year is that you now initiate your career in high school, with your performances influencing which colleges show interest in recruiting you. After selecting to begin as a one- to five-star recruit, your rating fluctuates based on your performance in specific challenges. You receive four drives and two challenges to complete in each segment, with the notion being that you’re constructing a highlight reel to impress college scouts.

As a Dual Threat QB, my challenges typically revolved around advancing down the field and using my mobility to gain yards. With only five games to finish, it’s not an especially lengthy experience, which is preferable to playing through a complete high school season, but it’s not flawless either. Each drive exists independently, overlooking the broader context of a game. You might fail to pass for 60 yards during a specific drive, thus failing the challenge, even though you’ve already passed for 70 yards in a previous drive. You could also excel in the challenge yet still fail, scoring on a one-play touchdown when the game requested three first downs. Apparently, scouts will still view this as disappointing and lower your star rating. It doesn’t quite add up. There is an option to restart a failed drive once each game, but the high school experience could definitely benefit from a redesign.

Meanwhile, the most remarkable new feature in Ultimate Team is a single-player mode named Study Hall. In this mode, you’re provided with a 12-game series to complete to earn rewards, with the difficulty escalating after each victory. It’s a more engaging mode than the former Solo Battles, but you’re limited to one entry per week unless you invest 25,000 coins to acquire another entry token. Lineup management has also been simplified, making it significantly easier to interchange players in and out of your roster. However, Ultimate Team still suffers from sluggish menus and prolonged loading screens throughout.

Despite the occasional shortcomings, College Football 26 builds upon its solid groundwork to graduate near the top of its class. This is an exceptional football game that thrives in the uniqueness of the college experience, from the pageantry, traditions, and electric atmosphere of each institution on game day, to the recruitment process, and the numerous intense rivalries among its 136 teams. Following a highly successful resurgence, EA Sports College Football 26 propels the series’ upward momentum, establishing one of the greatest spectacles on turf.