Today marks the date when EA Sports put out the College Football 26 game. After the tremendous success of the last 2025 edition game, the new installment is expected to be even better.
For those looking to get insights into the game while mulling over whether to upgrade from 25 to 26 addition, The Athletic’s Chris Vannini graded different parts of the game to give you a sense of what to expect. Let’s hit those markers one by one:
Chris Vannini Retains Grade A in Presentation
According to Vannini, CFB26 has removed repetitive drumline from CFB25 and replaced it with authentic fight songs, crowd chants and in-game traditions. For example, Virginia Tech storms the field to “Enter Sandman,” and Michigan fans belt out “Mr. Brightside” after the third quarter.
“The dynamic lighting for afternoon games is a really nice touch, turning a day game into a night game for the second half,” Vannini wrote. “Gameplay animation has also gone up a notch, making tackles look better. Not much needed to be tweaked here, but enough was that it’s noticeable.”
Analyst Upgrades Gameplay Rating to A-
The CFB26 seems to have a better gameplay than the last iteration and that’s why Vannini upgraded the rating from B+ to A-.
“Receivers can come back to the ball,” Vannini wrote. “Quarterback accuracy is a bit tougher to master, but catches broken up by a hit seem significantly rarer, a welcome change. Pass plays feel less predictable; there are more surprise catches and missed throws.”
Vannini notes that it may take time for new players to adjust to this new game environment, but said it will be worth it. He also added that there are a few glitches he came across during a field goal situation, but hopefully they’ll be taken care of in patches.
Analyst Also Upgrades Dynasty Mode to A-
Dynasty mode is a popular game mode among users, and that’s why Vannini went in-depth while analyzing in his column. However, the analyst has a warning for users:
“Make sure you get your settings right.”
Vannini cited issues like overactive transfer portals and roster imbalances for lower-tier teams. The analyst said building the roster through the transfer portal is easier than high school recruiting and chaotic coaching carousel changes. He also provided an example to emphasize his point, saying:
“I simulated a Michigan State season without manual recruiting, and I had just 49 players on my roster going into Year 2, including one running back. And because you can only add 35 players, it’s hard to get back up to 85. I simmed a second season and got fired after a 6-7 year — only to end up with the SMU job as the Mustangs came off an 11-2 season.”
Some other drastic coaching changes he highlighted included Joey McGuire leaving Texas Tech for Alabama’s DC role or Shane Beamer jumping to Clemson during a championship run at South Carolina.
However, the reason why he upgraded the rating from B+ to A- was due to protected rivalries and UI improvements.
Analyst upgrades Road to Glory and Overall Game Rating
Another important facet of the game is Road to Glory, and Chris Vannini made a slight upgrade from B- to B+. This comes after CFB26 brought back High School mode. However, he had a tough experience while competing, saying:
“I started as a five-star recruit, the No. 3 quarterback in the nation. I completed almost all of my goals and finished as a three-star recruit, down to No. 96 at my position. While I appeared to work back up to a four-star during my senior day game, I remained a three-star when I got back to the menu.”
Overall, Vannini’s verdict is:
“If you just play by yourself, it’s a close call. If you’re only a casual Dynasty person, probably not. If you’re a big Road to Glory person, definitely yes. If you’re a heavy online player, it’s an obvious yes.”
Thus, going by the analyst’s verdict, it does appear that the CFB 26 game is better than its predecessor.
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