After over a decade away from producing College football titles, EA Sports came roaring back with the release of College Football 25 to mainly positive initial reviews.
While the ever-present Madden NFL series continues to grab the global badge of honor, College Football 25 captured the essence and pageantry of student-level athleticism in everything from the celebrations to the dynamism and graphics. College football can even boast stadia than its big brother while capturing more bettor options through the sheer diversity of teams. In some ways, it felt like it was a more grown-up game than Madden.
However, some changes were still necessary for the second edition. The 2025 version had managed to capture the vibrancy of the college format in terms of authentic minutiae that make it what it is. The EA team ensured they had records of everything, from how turnovers are celebrated to very small details, such as teams running out of tunnels. There was research on details like more information and team uniforms, with developers trying to capture the stadium build and environment.
College Football 26 would always be an upgrade, especially as its predecessor was only the starting point. The improvements may not be astounding but are in key areas. The gameplay is smoother than its predecessor, with defensive reactions that are much sharper. There is also a significant upgrade in tackling based on the physical ratings of players. Hand-to-hand combat is important, as it is at the heart of the game.
The evolution of College Football is most prevalent in the Road to Glory section, which contains a high school prep season in the new version. In the original, the experience started straight from college. Starting the journey from the beginning definitely adds to the authenticity of career progression.
The Dynasty Mode Progression has also undergone a noticeable overhaul, with hundreds of real head coaches to choose from and the ability to create and customize one. These all have temperaments and behaviors that can influence development and loyalty. College 2025 didn’t have the license to introduce realistic management with different playing styles. The recruitment is a little more realistic than the speedy progression of the 2025 edition.
The dynamic parts of the game also hit home very well. Rather than pausing for substitutions, changes can now be made in real time. There is no need to go through menus to elongate the process.
College Football 25 wasn’t always realistic in some ways, especially when defenders could react without really seeing the ball. Here, the defensive set must be able to view the ball to intercept plays.
There have been more improvements in adapting movements and hits based on size rather than ratings. Blocking also now depends on the physics rather than pure chance, and is more dependent on the momentum of bursting through. Heavier players can use their force against smaller ones, and the coverage is more worthy of the size and dimensions of each set.
Reviews from the gaming industry experts have been favorable, although some have pointed out that the improvements have been more about evolution than revolution. The New York Times summed up the overall feeling best in their review, stating that “the game is loaded across the board with minor upgrades that add up to a lot, along with a few actual big changes. The biggest gaping holes in CFB25 have been filled.”
The users’ comments across social media generally corroborate the view that the gameplay, play options, and customization are a noticeable improvement. However, a view has also been expressed that the depth of such cumulative changes can make it somewhat overwhelming for some players. On the other hand, the learning curve means longevity and makes it feel more professional, especially with the licences.
There have been further patch updates as the College season gets into the swing, including new mascots, fixing duplicate plays, and button mapping issues. More songs are added to the soundtrack with further bonus commentary on high-profile clashes. Several issues like coverage, gameplay, run defense, alignment, playbook content, and Dynasty have also received further tweaks. There is even a new “Odd Ghost” formation for defenses to scramble.
EA College Sports Football 26 is a definitive improvement on the 2025 version. What it really captures is the color of college football in student days. That makes it so much more accessible and appealing than the big brand banner of the NFL.
