EA Sports College Football 26 Review (PS5 & Xbox Series X|S)

College Football 26 is here! College Football 25 brought the sport back to consoles after over a decade, and now College Football 26 is building on that long-awaited return. For fans of the classic NCAA games, last year’s return was a big moment, but this time around, expectations are higher. With the foundation already in place, the focus shifts to improvements, fixes, and making the game feel like a complete college football experience.

Whether you’re a returning fan or someone new to college football games, College Football 26 aims to capture what makes Saturdays special. Loud bands, unique traditions, wild rivalries, it’s all back, along with deeper modes and visual upgrades. After spending over 20 hours across all the major modes, it’s clear that EA Sports made progress, especially for fans who love offline play. But there are still some rough spots that keep this from being a complete victory. Let’s take a closer look at what College Football 26 brings to the table. 

Dynasty Mode Is the Star Player

Let’s start with the mode that steals the show, Dynasty Mode. If you’ve ever dreamed of running a college program, this is your chance. EA has put serious effort into revamping this fan-favorite mode, and it pays off. The updated recruiting system is the most noticeable improvement. It’s no longer just about offering scholarships and hoping for the best. Players must strategize, monitor interest levels, and pitch their school’s academics, playing time, NIL deals, and more. You’re also competing against CPU and real coaches for the same players, making every week feel like a chess match.

Now, the atmosphere is where College Football 26 really captures the magic. Every stadium feels alive. Some have special crowd chants, unique weather patterns, or region-specific traditions. A night game at Death Valley feels nothing like a noon game at Iowa, and that’s the beauty of it. Notably, the crowds respond to your performance, turning up the pressure in tight games. Surprisingly, EA included over 300 real coaches, adding authenticity to your matchups. Ultimately, Dynasty Mode is where the game feels most complete. If offline play is your focus, this is a huge win.

Road to Glory

Road to Glory makes a return, letting players live out the journey from high school hopeful to college superstar. The idea is solid, and parts of it are really enjoyable, but it has a rocky beginning. The high school section includes challenges like performing specific moves on command, stiff arms, tricky passes, or double jukes. The problem is, they don’t always register. You’ll pull off the move, and the game won’t recognize it. This can cause frustration, especially when you're trying to earn offers or build your player’s rating.

Once you make it to college, though, things smooth out. Players can pick their major, build a skill tree, manage their weekly schedule, and rise through the ranks. The stadiums come alive, especially when you're the star QB or wideout making big plays in front of 90,000 fans. It's immersive and rewarding. The pressure to keep your starting job and maintain good grades adds an extra level of engagement.

One of the coolest features is that you can transfer your Road to Glory player into Madden 25 once they graduate. This gives your custom athlete a longer career arc and lets you stay invested even after their college years. It’s a small feature, but it connects the two games in a way fans will appreciate.

The Ultimate Team

In College Football 26, Ultimate Team lets you build your dream roster with a mix of college legends and current stars. You can line up Heisman winners next to today’s top prospects, then take on other players in head-to-head matches. Alternatively, players can jump into themed challenges designed to test their skills. Creating wild fantasy lineups across decades of college football is a fun concept.

However, once you get past the team-building fantasy, the mode starts to feel like déjà vu. If you’ve played Madden’s Ultimate Team, you’ll know what to expect. The structure is nearly identical: earn coins, buy packs, complete daily objectives, and repeat. It quickly becomes a grind, especially if you’re not spending money. Of course, free packs are limited, and top players often sit behind high-cost bundles or time-limited events, which makes progression tough for casual players.

One of the biggest visual changes in the Ultimate Team is the redesigned player items. EA Sports has introduced a larger canvas for each card and removed the old item borders. This opens the door to more creative and distinct designs. You’ll notice fan-favorite styles getting fresh updates, along with completely new card art that makes each program feel unique. Additionally, key player information is now easier to read. Attributes are displayed based on playstyle, so when you’re comparing two players or building a lineup, the most important details are right there, clean, clear, and consistent. 

But it’s not just about how things look. There’s a new mode called Study Hall. It replaces the traditional Solo Battles. In this single-player challenge, players take on a 12-game series where each win ramps up the difficulty. Players must have a token to enter (you get one free every week), and if you want more entries, you can buy them using in-game coins. 

The Playbooks

This year’s playbooks are deep, creative, and way more fun to experiment with than in previous EA football titles. Over 2,800 plays were added, bringing more flexibility to how you run your team. Whether you prefer running the triple option or slinging it in a modern spread offense, you’ll find what you need.

Unlike Madden, where throwing certain routes often requires abilities or badges, College Football 26 gives all quarterbacks access to full route trees. This makes the game feel more open and less gated by micro systems. You can run deep posts, tight curls, or corner routes without being punished for not having a top-tier QB.

Defensive control also got a big boost. Players can now manually set zone depths and adjust alignment with more precision. Want your nickel corner to backpedal 12 yards? Done. Need your linebackers to shade inside against a heavy offense? You’ve got it.

Nevertheless, there are bugs. Linebackers sometimes freeze. Safeties wander out of position. Defenders may ignore your commands entirely. It’s clear these are fixable with patches, but it breaks immersion during otherwise exciting games. When it works, the tactical depth is great in this sports game. When it doesn’t, it feels unfair.

Online Play

Now we come to the weak link, online play. If you’re mainly here for ranked matches, competitive tournaments, or head-to-head fun, College Football 26 might not deliver at the moment. The biggest issue is blocking. Offensive linemen often miss their assignments entirely. It’s common to see your tackle watching defenders run by or your guard double-teaming no one. This leads to instant frustration.

Run-Pass Options are another problem. They’re currently overpowered, mostly because defenders don’t react properly. You can call the same play multiple times, and it’ll work because the AI doesn’t adjust fast enough. Combine that with unresponsive zones and poor blocking, and online play becomes more about exploiting glitches than football strategy.

There’s also input lag and matchmaking inconsistencies. Some games feel smooth, others choppy. It depends on your opponent’s connection and EA’s servers. Right now, if you’re looking for a polished online experience, you’re better off sticking with Madden.

Details and Extras

Despite the rough spots, College Football 26 gets a lot of the small stuff right. And it’s those details that help the game feel fresh and full of heart. The pregame entrances are fantastic. Teams burst out of tunnels with smoke, lights, fireworks, and even drone shows in night games. Additionally, the mascots are back, with over 30 new ones added, including some hilarious additions like the Pop-Tart Bowl mascot. Similarly, team traditions like Clemson’s Hill Run and FSU’s flaming spear also make a return.

In addition, lighting is dynamic. Afternoon games transition into golden-hour finishes. Weather matters too, rain and snow affect visibility, ball handling, and even crowd attendance. And then there’s the soundtrack. It mixes hype tracks with classic college football anthems. Songs like “Swag Surfin” and “Enter Sandman” play at just the right moments, adding energy to every kickoff and touchdown.

Verdict

So, should you buy College Football 26? The answer depends on what kind of player you are. If you love offline modes like Dynasty and Road to Glory, this game is made for you. It delivers depth, strategy, and real college football energy. The presentation is exciting. There’s enough content to keep you busy for dozens of hours.

On the flip side, if you’re more into competitive online play, however, you might want to wait. The bugs, broken blocking, and lack of polish hurt the experience right now. And Ultimate Team hasn’t seen major improvements. It’s still heavily pay-to-win and lacks new ideas. 

Ultimately, College Football 26 is a welcome return for a series that’s been gone too long. This sports game brings back the passion and the unpredictability that make college football so fun to watch, and now, fun to play again. With updates and support, this could become one of the best sports games on the market.