College football fans are counting down the days until the release of EA Sports College Football 26, the successor to the reincarnated title. Meanwhile, the new game is set to bring all the bells and whistles of modern graphics and updated rosters. However, longtime fans are still nostalgic for some features from the franchise that got lost in the shuffle.
So, let’s fire up the time machine and revisit seven forgotten features that made the series unforgettable. Should these features get added to College Football 26?
7 Best Features From EA Sports’ NCAA College Football Video Game Series
1) Create-a-Sign
One of the most charming and overlooked features in the older NCAA Football titles was the Create-a-Sign mode. This allowed players to design custom fan signs that would show up in the stands during home games.
Whether you wanted to cheer on your Heisman hopeful QB or throw some digital shade at a rival, you could do it with hilarious and creative signs like “Bama Who?” or “Not in Our House!” It was silly, it was simple, and it was perfect. This feature added a touch of personalization that made the game-day atmosphere feel alive and uniquely yours.
2) Player Discipline System
Think coaching is just about calling plays? Think again. In NCAA Football 2006 and a few subsequent versions, players had to manage off-the-field drama with a full player discipline system.
If your star player was caught skipping class or worse, you were forced to choose between suspending him or risking your program’s integrity score. It gave gamers a taste of the difficult choices real coaches face and added stakes beyond just wins and losses. Strategy extended beyond the field, and it made Dynasty Mode feel like a true program-building experience.
3) Custom Jersey Numbers
It might sound like a small detail, but ask any football fan—jersey numbers matter. Whether you wanted your quarterback wearing No. 7 like a legend or made sure your fastest player wore No. 1, having control over jersey assignments gave gamers a deeper connection to their virtual squads.
It also allowed for realistic recreations of real teams and kept traditions alive in Dynasty mode. Newer games often limit or randomize this, which breaks immersion for hardcore fans.
4) Spring Drills and Spring Game
A true college football season doesn’t start in September—it starts in the spring. In older games, you could run spring drills and even play a full spring game to evaluate talent and improve player ratings.
Want to test your redshirt freshman QB before the season opener? You had your chance. Want to build a walk-on into a stud cornerback? Spring practice made it possible. This feature gave gamers a real sense of long-term development and strategy, making each year in Dynasty Mode feel like a real coaching cycle.
5) FCS Teams in the Game
Yes, the NCAA Football series used to include Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams, adding a whole new level of variety and upset potential. You could face off against powerhouses like North Dakota State or build an FCS school into a giant killer.
RELATED: Will EA Sports College Football 26 Include FCS Teams?
It made Dynasty Mode even more dynamic and gave smaller programs a moment to shine. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear EA Sports College Football 26 will not include FCS schools at launch, a disappointment for fans who loved seeing David go toe-to-toe with Goliath.
6) Fans Leaving During Blowouts
This feature was as petty as it was brilliant. If you were destroying your opponent at home or on the road, you’d actually see fans begin to file out of the stadium.
It was a subtle visual, but it added to the realism and emotion of each game. The stadium felt reactive—alive—based on your performance. Win big, and you own the night. Lose badly, and even your own fans might beat traffic.
7) Historic Teams and Legendary Players
Let’s be honest—every gamer has dreamed of recreating legendary moments or building dream matchups. The NCAA Football franchise once allowed that with historic teams and players, giving you the chance to play as the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, 2005 Texas Longhorns, or even take the field with legends like Bo Jackson.
With the licensing changes in today’s NIL era, it’s unclear if historic rosters will ever return, but fans would welcome it with open arms.
Whether it’s managing locker room discipline, running spring drills, or just watching a crowd thin out after a 56-0 blowout, these moments made the game feel alive.
Let’s hope that in the excitement of rebooting the series, EA Sports doesn’t forget the magic that made NCAA Football a legend. Sometimes, it’s the little things—like a custom sign in the crowd—that make the biggest difference.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
