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New York Times
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
EA Sports College Football 26: The 5 biggest changes in game's new version
ORLANDO, Fla. — I have played an early edition of EA Sports College Football 26, and I've got some thoughts. The return of the college football video game series last year was 11 years in the making, and it mostly lived up to the hype. CFB25 was a joy, but it was far from perfect with some obvious holes. Despite its flaws, it became the highest-selling sports video game of all time in total dollars because of that excitement and execution. Advertisement So what's in store for Round 2? EA Sports announced some new features on Thursday ahead of the July 10 launch, and The Athletic got to test out the gameplay in person for a few hours. This is not a full game review, as I haven't played the whole game, but here are the five biggest changes to the franchise for CFB26. 1. Real coaches are in the game (mostly) and the coaching carousel is deeper Lane Kiffin said last year he'd be in the game for free, as coaches immediately realized its recruiting value. Now, more than 300 real coaches and their likenesses are here, including head coaches, offensive coordinators and defensive coordinators. Not everyone is signed up, either because they declined or haven't responded yet. Bill Belichick is not in the game, which is not a big surprise since he didn't make himself available for Madden either. I also didn't see Deion Sanders when playing a game as Colorado. Real coaches have their own tendencies and skills that show up in Dynasty mode. In the coaching carousel, you can see a G5 coach move up the ranks, a real college coach leave for the NFL or change coordinators. That was in the game last year, but now they're real. It's technically possible to see Kirby Smart struggle and stumble down the ranks to become a Group of 5 coordinator if things go poorly. 2. High School Mode is back in Road to Glory, and it's optional This was one of the top demands from gamers, since High School was part of RTG in the old NCAA series. Developers told me they didn't have time to fit it all in last year and felt most gamers just wanted to focus on the college experience. Indeed, they said Thursday that the feedback was mostly positive. Still, they planned to bring High School back and now they have, but players can skip it if they like. After playing it briefly, I'll tell you it looks very fun and creative, coming from someone like me who didn't like the old High School mode. You pick 10 schools and play five high school weeks. In those weeks, you're just trying to complete a few tasks in a game, like a certain kind of throw, to gain points for a 'tape score.' When you earn enough points, you get a scholarship offer. But that point threshold is different from school to school. A 'challenge' from a school is another point-boosting opportunity. You pick your star rating to start, but it can rise or fall depending on how you do in the tasks. Advertisement You can commit and decommit and see who else your suitors are recruiting. Schools also offer you certain skill bonuses that help your college player, which is the stand-in for NIL. You can get an offer from a school, but wait for them to increase the skill bonus based on your tape score. Developers said the goal is for High School mode to last about an hour of gameplay. 3. Online Dynasty Cross-Play Xbox players rejoice. We won't be left out of our PS5 friends' online dynasties any longer. Cross-play allows gamers with Xbox and PS5 to compete against each other with up to 32 players. While cross-play was already playable for single games, it's now available for Dynasty mode, which was already in place for Madden. 4. Formation subs and dynamic subs This was the biggest in-game request from gamers, and it's here. Formation subs allow you to set lineups in the pause menu for specific formations, like a power running back for short-yardage runs. Dynamic subs will allow you to make quick individual substitutions during the course of the game using the D-pad, without needing the pause menu. It pulls up a little screen to let you know the status and overall rating of players at different positions. You can also work auto-sub sliders for each position, setting up a sub when a specific position reaches a certain wear-and-tear level. Powerhouse Programs. Real World Coaches. Electric Traditions. Experience it all in #CFB26. Coming July 10. Pre-Order Now🔗: — EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) May 27, 2025 5. Gameplay is smoother, and a lot of the little annoyances are gone When you first start playing a game, it mostly feels the same. This isn't some big overhaul, obviously. Last year was an entirely new game, especially new for me as someone who got out of gaming when the NCAA series went away. So it's not jarring anymore to jump on the sticks and see a real college quarterback making a throw. But the more I played over the course of a few hours, I started to notice a lot of little improvements. For example, your receivers will make more catches in contact. Developers told me they realized there were too many pass breakups on hits. That's nice. Quarterback scrambles out of pass plays are much smoother and realistic-looking. Your QB doesn't need to fully stand up in his throwing stance before you can start running around. Defensive linemen now have 'block-steering' ability, where you can push an offensive lineman in a direction that you choose. It's a nice addition for people who play with a DL. Advertisement Running the ball was my favorite part of CFB 25, and it's even better in this next game. Run-after-catch was also smoother. There's a lot more you can do on defense, too. Developers heard the feedback that playing defense was too hard. It seems a bit easier with better tackling, but for the hardcores, you can now set custom DB zones (in response to custom receiver stems), you can commit to certain routes and guess the play, and you can call stunts and twists on the line by holding the play selection button and choosing from options. Other notes: — Oklahoma might be this year's most popular team, thanks to the additions of quarterback John Mateer and running back Jaydn Ott. The Sooners were a lot of fun to use. — There are more renovated stadiums, including Florida State, but Northwestern is still at the old Ryan Field. There are more, but not all, bowl stadiums. No Ireland, and still not every NFL stadium. — Trophy Room is back in Dynasty Mode. Not only can you see the trophies and awards you've won, you can click and see the all-time history of trophy winners, like Wisconsin being the first Big Ten champion in 1896. That's cool. — Rivalry games and night games will have a greater impact on Stadium Pulse shaking. The rivalry trophies are also highlighted in the game menu. Yes, even the Civil ConFliCT trophy is in this game. — Protected games are in Dynasty after being pulled at the last minute out of CFB25. — Wear-and-tear can last throughout the season in Dynasty and Road to Glory. — Thankfully, the menu screen is no longer just that drumline over and over and over. It will now include marching band covers of some real songs. — Speaking of real songs, 'Enter Sandman' for Virginia Tech was the big one, as evident in the trailer. It also added 'Mr. Brightside' at Michigan, 'Seven Nation Army', 'FE!N' by Travis Scott, 'I'm Shipping Up to Boston' at Notre Dame and the '2001: A Space Odyssey' song for South Carolina's intro, among others. Overall, my takeaway from these early pieces of CFB26 is that the game filled the major holes from CFB25. We'll have the main modes and in-game adjustments that were needed. I'll have a full review later in the summer when I get to play the whole game. During a week in which leaders in college football again argued about the future of the College Football Playoff and threats to leave the NCAA, this game was once again a reminder of the celebration of all of college football. There are so many more stadium run-out shots and new school-specific songs/chants added, along with turnover celebrations. We got Akron's tire celebration and Clemson's bus entrance in the trailer. New additions Delaware and Missouri State look as good as everyone else (and I particularly liked the Delaware playbook). CFB25 wasn't a reskin of Madden, as many gamers feared. It was uniquely college football. The early returns look like CFB26 will be that once again. (Top photo courtesy of EA Sports)
New York Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
SEC rallies around push for strength of schedule respect, setting stage for CFP format clash
DESTIN, Fla. — The SEC now appears to be the critical decision maker in the debate over the next College Football Playoff format. And on the final day of its spring meetings, while the conference didn't reveal its preference, it made clear its priority: schedule strength. Commissioner Greg Sankey began his wrap-up press conference by handing out six pages of data arguing that the challenge of the SEC's regular season deserves more consideration. The packet touted the SEC as having the hardest schedule every year from 2015 to 2024 according to five computer formulas. It also showed the SEC only had two teams ranked outside the top 50 in three different metrics, a testament to the conference's depth. Advertisement The title page read, 'A REGULAR SEASON GAUNTLET,' followed by the subtitle, 'When looking at the leading metrics that factor in strength of schedule, the conclusion across all of them is clear: No other conference has a regular season as grueling as the SEC's.' This all came against the backdrop of the SEC emerging as the swing conference in the decision over a CFP format. The field is expected to expand to 16 teams for 2026 and beyond. The Big Ten favors a format where it and the SEC get four automatic bids, the ACC and Big 12 two automatic bids each, and the conferences outside the Power 4 one bid for the top-ranked champion. The ACC, Big 12 and Group of 5 favor the so-called '5+11' model, with five automatic bids for the highest-ranked conference champions and the rest at-larges. The SEC, meanwhile, came away from four days of meetings without a formal stance nor a decision on whether to expand to a nine-game conference schedule. That decision is intertwined with the format, with some athletic directors saying they don't want to go to nine games unless they have automatic bids. But the Big Ten, if it were to relent on the automatic bids, would want the SEC to move to nine games, so that the two conferences are playing the same number. The SEC does still appear inwardly torn on what to do. But Sankey, asked whether he felt his league moved any closer to a decision on either this week, said yes. When asked how much, he appeared to send a message that got back to schedule strength. 'The strength of our conference and how that's evaluated is really something we want to be a priority. I think that's important for us,' Sankey said. 'The extent we can have clarity, maybe that can keep us advancing. Maybe if we lack clarity, maybe that causes us to take a step back in our decision making.' Advertisement What the SEC needs to see specifically to be satisfied is unclear. The CFP is currently decided by a selection committee, which looks at data but ultimately makes its own decisions in setting the final rankings. In 2024 the SEC had three 9-3 teams (Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina) that were left out of the field. And while the on-field postseason results seemed to validate the snubs (the SEC went 2-3 in the Playoff), Sankey and his conference are looking for some unclear level of assurance in order to support the 5+11 model. 'How will a 9-3 SEC team be evaluated against others who may have one or two losses?' Sankey said. 'The rigor of this schedule is unique, and it stands alone by comparison. How is that best respected in this national evaluation system?' Failing that, Sankey could back the Big Ten's proposal. And since the SEC and Big Ten have codified power to decide the format, the SEC going that way would seal it. Sankey didn't disagree with that premise when a reporter stated that it was apparent what the Big Ten wants, and apparent what the other conferences want, meaning the SEC was — 'Kind of important,' Sankey said, interrupting. 'We're a bit important in that decision.' Coming into this week, it was known that most SEC athletic directors favored the Big Ten proposal, and that was borne out in many of their interviews. Texas A&M AD Trev Alberts, for instance, said he would only vote for going to a nine-game conference schedule if the SEC was 'protected' in the next CFP format. But as the meetings went on, it was clear there were reservations. Sankey said he spoke to coaches mainly about the 5+11 model and that the coaches were open to it. And Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks, asked an open-ended question about the possible formats, argued that the 5+11 format would give the SEC a chance to get more teams in, rather than fighting for two or three at-large spots after filling out its four automatic bids. Advertisement 'If you look historically, if you look at how many we would have gotten in, I'm always going to want the decision that gets the most SEC teams in,' Brooks said. 'If you look at our track record as a conference, we should have a good number, between hopefully five and six and maybe even more, who fall in that criteria of the top 16. I think you have to look at the historical data as a guiding star for how you make that decision moving forward.' A day later, Sankey presented some of that data to the media members. He was asked whether it was meant to lobby the next selection committee or support the idea of the SEC getting automatic bids. Sankey didn't choose either option, saying it just showed the 'need for change.' 'We need better understanding of the data. Not simply that the committee has a high approval rating and works well,' Sankey said. 'There's a balance between just the machine or just the human element. Can that be achieved? That's a fair question that we should look and figure out, can we learn from our past experiences and have a balance.' The next meeting of CFP leaders is June 18 in Asheville, N.C. Sankey was asked about the chances the SEC would be able to present a preference at that meeting. 'We'll see,' he said.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State vs. Texas move to Sunday primetime blocked by Longhorns, Fox exec says
Ohio State vs. Texas move to Sunday primetime blocked by Longhorns, Fox exec says Show Caption Hide Caption Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams on cover of EA Sports College Football '26 EA Sports chose Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Alabama's Ryan Williams to be on the cover of College Football '26. We talk to the athletes about what this moment means to them. There has been plenty of discussion around the time for the season opener between Ohio State and Texas, and the Longhorns ultimately determined it. The College Football Playoff semifinal rematch will kickoff the 2025 season in one of the most highly anticipated Week 1 games. When it was announced the game would be on Fox, the belief was the game would kick off at noon ET as part of the network's "Big Noon Saturday." The gametime was confirmed Thursday. The timeslot has been widely disapproved of by Buckeyes fans, so much that an Ohio lawmaker introduced legislation to prevent Ohio State from playing early afternoon games. Understanding the implications of the matchup, Ohio State reportedly tried to move the game to Sunday − with no NFL − for a primetime kickoff. However, Fox Sports president of insights and analytics Mike Mulvihill said Texas blocked the move. 'There was a deal in place between Fox and Ohio State to move the game to Sunday night,' Mulvihill told The Athletic. 'We felt like Week 1 prior to NFL kickoff gave us an opportunity to look at sort of an alternate scenario, and then Texas exercised their contractual right to keep the game on Saturday, which is completely their right. I can understand why they would take that position, but we did work with the school to try to come up with a different scenario and get the game to Sunday." Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte confirmed to ESPN he vetoed the decision, citing the short week it would create for the Longhorns. Texas plays San Jose State in Week 2 at noon ET. Noon kickoffs have drawn the ire for Ohio State fans. When Fox debuted "Big Noon Saturday," the network could air a premier matchup in the first timeslot of the day as ESPN and CBS typically aired their top game in the late afternoon and evening. It's worked for ratings, but at the cost of people attending the game. Fans argue the early kickoff times force them to wake up earlier in the morning and give them less time to tailgate, in addition to losing the atmosphere that night games provide. Ohio State has been a consistent College Football Playoff contender, and thus has made it an easy choice for Fox to pick for the noon timeslot. Five of Ohio State's eight home games during the regular 2024 season were at noon, including the last six games of the regular season. The Buckeyes are also confirmed to have another Fox noon kickoff in the regular season finale at Michigan on Nov. 29, which is the rivalry's traditional time.
Fox Sports
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
Trailer for 'College Football 26' released, with game to include real-life coaches
After a successful first relaunch in 2024, the newest installation of EA Sports' "College Football" video game series will be back in full force this summer with some tweaks and changes. The trailer for "College Football 26" was released on Thursday, displaying some of the changes EA Sports made to the game following "College Football 25." Arguably, the biggest change in the game is that real coaches will be involved for the first time ever in the series. Over 300 current college football coaches, including assistants, lent their likeness for EA Sports to use in "College Football 26," according to a release. The release didn't share all of the coaches who agreed to be a part of "College Football 26." However, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman, Ohio State's Ryan Day and Texas' Steve Sarkisian were seen in the trailer, while Penn State's James Franklin, Oregon's Dan Lanning and Georgia's Kirby Smart were among those named in the release. For the second straight year, thousands of players have agreed to lend their likeness for the "College Football" video game series. There will be over 2,8000 new plays and "unique schemes" added to "College Football 26" from last year's game. The Wear and Tear feature also underwent changes, allowing users to "manage fatigue strategically and save your favorite playmakers for key moments with Dynamic Substitutions that allow you to rotate players in and out on the fly." In terms of game atmosphere, EA Sports also enhanced the Stadium Pulse feature for "College Football 26." In the newest edition of the game, there will be a more intense camera shake, new heads-up display visuals and a clock distortion that will force users to the high pressure of playing on the road at a hostile environment. Rivalry games, the College Football Playoff and high-stakes matchups will also be more impacted by Stadium Pulse. Other game features include the return of the Trophy Room (which shows all the trophies and accomplishments a user has won while playing the game) and Cross-Play across Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 in Dynasty Mode. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams were named as the cover athletes for the standard version of "College Football 26" on Tuesday. The deluxe version of the video game includes a few more star players (such as Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier), coaches (such as Day and Smart), legends (Reggie Bush, Tim Tebow, Denard Robinson) and mascots, along with Smith and Williams. "College Football 26" will be available for purchase on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 10. The game can also be preordered now through the EA Sports MVP bundle, which includes the deluxe versions of "College Football 26" and "Madden 26," granting three-day early access to both games. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
New York Times
11 hours ago
- General
- New York Times
How College Football Hall of Fame eligibility changes impact Mike Leach, Les Miles, others
The late Mike Leach, a legendary and revolutionary college football mind, will soon be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame. On Thursday, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame announced changes to eligibility criteria for coaches to be considered for induction. The NFF has come under scrutiny in recent years for requiring coaches to have a .600 career winning percentage to be considered, but on Thursday it opted to trim the required winning percentage down to .595 starting in 2027. Advertisement Leach, who coached at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, went 158-107 in his career for a winning percentage of .596. But he had an outsized impact on the sport through the development of the Air Raid offense and his coaching tree. Leach died in December 2022 at the age of 61 following complications form a heart condition. The NFF still requires coaches eligible for induction to have served a minimum of 10 years as a head coach and to have coached a minimum of 100 career games. Coaches become eligible three full seasons after retirement or are immediately eligible if they retire at the age of 70 or older. Active coaches who are 75 or older are eligible. 'The NFF is committed to preserving the integrity and prestige of the NFF College Football Hall of Fame,' NFF president Steve Hatchell said in a release Thursday. 'This adjustment reflects thoughtful dialogue with leaders across the sport and allows us to better recognize coaches whose contributions to the game extend beyond a narrow statistical threshold.' The change might allow for Leach to be inducted posthumously in 2027, but it still leaves questions as to why other prominent and successful coaches remain ineligible. Howard Schnellenberger, who guided Miami to a national title in 1983, will not be able to be considered for induction because of his .511 career winning percentage (158-151-3) that also included stops at Louisville, Oklahoma and Florida Atlantic. He's now a mere four-tenths of a percentage short of the NFF's new required winning clip. Schnellenberger died in March 2021 at the age of 87. Another national champion head coach may, in theory, be eligible too. Former LSU head coach Les Miles, who guided the Tigers to a national title in 2007, sued the NCAA, the NFF and LSU last year after 37 of his wins were vacated in the wake of a Level I recruiting violation, dropping his career winning percentage from .665 (145-73) to .597 (108-73). Though the suit was later dismissed, the 71-year-old Miles, who also coached at Oklahoma State and Kansas, could now be eligible for induction anyway. Advertisement The longest-tenured current head coach in college football also has a little more wiggle room. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who has been leading the Hawkeyes since 1999, is one win from tying Ohio State's Woody Hayes for the Big Ten career win record of 205. But Ferentz's three-year stint at Maine (12-21) from 1990-92 caused his career winning percentage to hover just below the .600 threshold at .598. Ferentz, 69, is 216-145 overall and 204-124 (.622 percent) in 26 seasons at Iowa.
