College Football 26 Review in Progress – Avoiding the Sophomore Slump?
A second outing is always tricky. The “sophomore slump” haunts everything from albums and athletes to video games — and College Football 26 is no exception. After the hype and long wait that fueled College Football 25’s triumphant return, EA’s follow-up has the daunting task of proving it wasn’t a one-hit wonder. While I’ve only scratched the surface of what this year’s game has to offer, my early impressions are cautiously optimistic.
Building on Solid Ground
There’s no denying College Football 25 had its issues — barebones modes, clunky UI, and a lack of onboarding for newcomers — but it was still a fundamentally fun and fresh-feeling return to the gridiron after more than a decade. College Football 26 benefits from the strong foundation laid last year. It retains the spirit and pageantry that makes college football special while introducing a few meaningful changes under the hood.
One of the standout additions so far is the Trophy Room — a mode-spanning showcase of real-life college football awards. Seeing your career awards — like the Heisman, the Unitas Golden Arm, or the Orange Bowl Trophy — neatly displayed and accompanied by historical context is a brilliant touch. It gives the game a sense of legacy and immersion that sports games often lack.
Defensive AI Finally Makes Sense
My early time with College Football 26 has mostly been spent sneaking in Quick Play matches between other reviews (I just wrapped Mecha Break, which surprised me in a good way), but the changes on the field have already stood out — particularly on defense.
If you’ve ever been frustrated in previous EA football games by defenders intercepting passes they couldn’t possibly see, you’re not alone. This year, EA has implemented a system where defenders must turn their heads to make a play on the ball. It’s a subtle but game-changing tweak. Defenders now react more realistically: if they don’t spot the ball, they’ll swat it instead of magically picking it off. As a result, better defenders genuinely feel better, able to make plays that average ones can’t. This opens up a more thoughtful defensive strategy — should you go for the pick, or just knock it down?
More Control, Fewer Menus
Another welcome update: dynamic substitutions. You’re no longer locked into making changes via the playcall screen. Now, you can swap players on the fly (though the changes may take effect a play later). It’s a small quality-of-life change, but one that adds depth and realism.
Also worth highlighting is the introduction of custom defensive zones, the natural complement to last year’s offensive custom stems. This lets you place defensive assignments where you want them in real time, rather than being restricted to canned formations. For players like me who love defense more than lighting up the scoreboard, it’s a big win.
A Promising Future for Dynasty and Road to Glory
While I’ve mostly focused on gameplay so far, I’m looking forward to diving into the revamped Road to Glory and Dynasty modes. I’m particularly excited about high school careers making a comeback — a fan-favorite feature that helps you build your athlete’s story from humble beginnings to gridiron legend. In Dynasty, I’m curious to see if EA added depth to the off-the-field experience that 25 lacked — things like coaching trees, recruiting intricacies, and immersive program-building.
If College Football 26 can deliver the goods in these major modes, it could go from being a good sequel to a genuinely great one.
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Cautious Optimism: Will It Avoid the Slump?
So far, College Football 26 seems to have dodged the worst of the sophomore slump. It feels like EA listened to some of the feedback from last year — especially around gameplay realism and immersion — and made deliberate efforts to improve. That said, there’s still a long way to go before I can offer a final verdict.
If College Football 25 was the long-awaited return, 26 is the proving ground. It has to show that this isn’t a one-and-done novelty — that there’s room for yearly growth, evolution, and polish. While I can’t yet say for certain that College Football 26 is a major leap forward, I’m having fun. And at the end of the day, that still matters.
Final Thoughts (For Now)
I’m optimistic. Not wildly hyped or blown away — but genuinely pleased. College Football 26 hasn’t reinvented the playbook, but it’s made enough improvements where it counts: on the field. As I dig deeper into Dynasty and Road to Glory in the coming days, I’ll be watching closely to see whether this season cements the franchise’s return to form… or if it starts to show cracks under the pressure.
One thing’s for sure: this team has potential.
Full review coming soon. Score pending.