Are the new features in the game going to worth it? I'm still enjoying 25', but there are issues with recruiting and the coaching carousel within dynasty mode. If this overhauled for the better, it would be worth it.

I've been playing the free trial with EA play and I would say that they improved just about everything in this game. Some things I have seen/noticed:

New additions - Formation subs, trophy room, more settings to customize your dynasty (things like transfer portal chaos), more player and coach customization options

The menu music is way better with bands playing instead of the continual same drum line.

Updates - recruiting is a little more challenging, UI is sleeker and easier to find info you are looking for.

Gameplay - WRs are more dynamic and will come back and play the ball. Dynamic lighting and more weather variability.

I enjoyed 25, but feel 26 made a lot of good changes

If they don't fix the coaching carousel in dynasty I'm gonna be pissed

Supposed to be picking it up today

I've taken to updating every 3 years minimum with any sports game.

Played it for 3ish hours, just hopping around different teams/games. The gameplay does feel better and more realistic. I think I've thrown one interception in 3 hours compared to six in the first game last year. Overall feel like offense is easier, still pretty hard to play defense, especially as a lower level school (which is realistic).

Have not gotten into dynasty as I'm waiting to see if a major update drops before I start one. Comments I've read online is recruiting is way more difficult this year, harder to build up a G5 school (as it should be) and the transfer portal can really wreck your roster depending on the setting. Some may have issues with this, but I appreciate again the realism of how hard it is to be a G5 or lower P4 team right now and keep a roster together year over year. One big complaint is that the transfer portal opens before "players leaving" occurs - so seniors and underclassman who are moving on to the NFL are still on the team which impacts playing time scores, leading to a lot of missed transfer portal opportunities. Not sure if they can fix that this year. Also coaching offers seem to be "fixed" with more variety.

My only complaint is some of the graphic screens feel more cartoonish this year, and I dislike how the plays are displayed in the playbook. Was pretty jarring at first to see how defensive zone coverages were displayed compared to last year. I'll get used to it though

I absolutely hated NCDub 25 and found it borderline unplayable despite changing sliders and settings. Maybe I am just old and slow, but I could not get a pass off without getting sacked, and when I did, half the time it was an INT.

Nice to hear that it seems to have improved, but I may wait to catch it on sale.

FightinTexasAg15 said:

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New additions - Formation subs,

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That's a big win for dynasty.

Hot damn! I was looking for a game replacement and almost went Ghosts of whatever sword game.

I bought a PS5 for this and Kingdom Come 2. Both were terrible. I returned the PS5. I'm too old to enjoy video games anymore.

Just blasted through season 1 to try recruiting. Same formula seemed to work but more options for hard/soft sell and the my school grades update pretty explosively.

Transfer is broken as hell. Lost 5 players to playing time that were gonna be the starter, lots of round 6-7 early draft exits that had none as the persuade chance, etc. thankfully had room to recruit but losing 16 players sucks.

Overall like the updates to recruiting. Will get more game play later to see what's up there

Have only played RTG, waiting for them to update the rosters to get the freshmen in there before I start a dynasty. Gameplay is improved IMO, they slowed it down a bit and the player movement feels more realistic as a result. I also love that the D can't pick off passes they can't see. And everything seems a little more polished.

Once rosters are fixed my son and I are going to split an A&M dynasty with him as the OC and me as the DC and recruiting coordinator. Should be fun.

I heard you can change the frequency of the transfer portal, compared to last year it went from 0 to 100, but that is honestly what makes it realistic. Recruiting in general just didn't seem as deep and was too easy compared say NCAA 14. Just hit send the house and schedule a visit. It seems like you didn't really get to know what the recruit was looking for compared to the X Box 360 games. Haven't played road to glory on 25, so I wonder how that compares. I remember in games past you would play through entire HS seasons. My biggest grip was the coaching carousel. If I win 3 straight natty's at UCLA, I should be getting P4 jobs, not coordinator positions. Also, if I wanted to go back to G5 school, there is no reason why they wouldn't offer me a job.

Icecream_Ag said:

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Just blasted through season 1 to try recruiting. Same formula seemed to work but more options for hard/soft sell and the my school grades update pretty explosively.

Transfer is broken as hell. Lost 5 players to playing time that were gonna be the starter, lots of round 6-7 early draft exits that had none as the persuade chance, etc. thankfully had room to recruit but losing 16 players sucks.

Overall like the updates to recruiting. Will get more game play later to see what's up there

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Sounds realistic

I have noticed the RTG running game AI is borderline stupid. Playing as a QB and I hand it off, massive hole and the idiotic AI bounces outside into the arms of a linebacker. So frustrating. My reincarnation of Johnny Manziel has to do it al himself it seems.

This game doesn't seem like it's worth $70 for a patch's worth of "updates." A lot of these "new" features were available on PS2 titles.

Dynamic lighting was introduced in NCAA Football 2002.
Formation subs were introduced in NCAA Football 2005.
The Trophy Room has been a thing in several video games.
You could upload your team's fight song back in NCAA 2006 on the PS2.

They are recycling features and calling it innovation, then slapping a $70 price tag on it. I just hate this format of yearly releases because it's greedy as hell. The fact that EA is the sole company that can produce both NFL and NCAA games is terrible for this industry. They are telling us this is innovation because there are no other options to show us what's possible.

What about create-a-play? (Which was available in John Madden Football FYI)
What about the 21 other players on the field actually having a brain instead of following a script?
What about AI commentary?

Edit to add to rant:

You mean to tell me you couldn't refine the QB speed behind the LOS with a patch to CFB 25? BS!

And the market just eats it up because they accept mediocrity and again there are no other options. As the market continues to get younger, they will be able to repeat the same cycle of remove feature, reintroduce same feature, call it new, repeat. Freaking dynamic lighting should have been in CFB 25. The game was in development for YEARS, despite being based on an outdated engine. In addition, they monetize different channels to talk about the game and do giveaways to build hype.

And you mean to tell me I can't update my favorite team with new rosters? NIL aside, I should be able to edit what I want, it's my game.

And to create your own team, you have to go through the EA website with Team Builder. What's to stop them from shutting that down on "old" games in a few years?

If this game doesn't have the Bonham trophy it ain't worth it.

I saw a fan that looks a whole lot like me. I'm suing the NCAA for using my likeness/image without compensation or permission. Hoping to get a 20% discount off the next NCAA FB if I win.

Is this game notably harder than CFB25?

I've never been great and only play on Varsity, but last year won 90%+ of my game and this year can barely beat sub 80 rated teams with similarly rated teams.

Run blocking seems totally broken particularly at the goal line. I've had 5+ 1st and goals and struggle to run it in every time. O-Line getting totally blown up. Blitzers constantly going unblocked. I upped the run blocking sliders from 50 to 70 and still experiencing this.

Phantom interceptions where the defenders don't look at the ball are gone, but now I've got constant errant throws from my QB, random lob passes, and other oddities that I didn't experience to this degree in 25.

It is easier to me. It makes more sense from an actual coaching / playing perspective.

For the run game, you have to let your blocks set up and make sure you have the numbers to run…if you don't pass. Too many people sprint right when they get the. All or see the open lane and it collapses and you can't change your point of attack. Slow is fast in this case.

For passing, you need to understand quick passing game.
Slants, zigs, crosses and outs. Also use R1 to mass protect throws. These are snap, three steps and throw. You should be able to read the shading of the defense or the defender to know if the player is going to be or get open.

For instance, if you are running stop routes. If the defender turns his hips…your player will be open.

Leverage for the out is key….etc.

I hope that helps.

The running AI on RTG is abhorrent

I play online mostly. It seems like I run into some opponents that make a ton of adjustments when they first start and absolutely demolish my oline. I hate the homefield advantage on online play. I can't remember which receiver is which button when I'm scrambling for my life and any important field goals are impossible to make.

Just played my first season. Started 7-0, then managed to lose to LSU and Mizzou. Went on to beat Texas and play Georgia in the SEC championship game. Was #8 at that point vs #14 Georgia.

Lost to Georgia. They made the playoffs, I did not (no name bowl game vs Florida State).

Sim through the offseason.

Lost every 80+ starter I had.

Now somehow I'm ranked #3, I think my QB is a mid 70 at best, one running back about the same with no depth behind him, etc. Unreal how you can lose an entire team after coming within one game of the playoffs.

But probably not too far fetched. Sad day.

They really need to patch the transfer risk sliders...I lost in the national championship in year 1, and like 23 starters transferred out due to playing style or ironically, champion contender rating.

I'm at the point of losing almost every skill player on offense due to playing time every off season. My qb, all 3 RB, all 3 wr are true Fr because the red shirts from the previous year transferred due to playing time.

I'm currently trying to boost the yellow coaching tree to get to the second skill of the advanced tree which reduces transfer risk.

And I do have the improved sway chance and it's still a slaughter every offseason

Still playing 25 when I have time to play due to all I've read about the issues in 26. The transfer portal thing not being fixed still is just insane to me. Staying away for now since I only play offline dynasty.

Omperlodge said:

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Marcel Reed transferred after winning the Heisman and National Championship citing playing style of our offense.

Texags would be in full meltdown. Going from the highest of highs for an entire season to that transfer.

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The fail in your logic is that everything brings TexAgs to a total meltdown - but if you get the pigs fat in a natty first before doing it - most will get over it fast.

Disgusting result last night. Lost to Texas in R1 of the CFB Playoffs. They go on to beat A&M in the semifinal and win the championship.

These sliders make the transfer portal a lot more realistic:

Max Transfers per team: 30
User chance: 40
CPU chance: 40

Haven't started a dynasty yet, waiting on the updated roster.

Instead I'm doing a RTG as a QB but damn if I'm not one dimensional with a stupid running back. Can't run the ball at all

Omperlodge said:

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Marcel Reed transferred after winning the Heisman and National Championship citing playing style of our offense.

Texags would be in full meltdown. Going from the highest of highs for an entire season to that transfer.

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To be accurate, coach needs to have an under the table deal to head to UT and be actively doing his best to lose the National Championship.

Tomdoss92 said:

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Omperlodge said:

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Marcel Reed transferred after winning the Heisman and National Championship citing playing style of our offense.

Texags would be in full meltdown. Going from the highest of highs for an entire season to that transfer.

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To be accurate, coach needs to have an under the table deal to head to UT and be actively doing his best to lose the National Championship.

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Reed also transferred out for me after losing the natty in year one due to playing style. Hell, I won the national championship the following season and still lost almost 15 guys to the portal, because my championship contender rating was only a B+