EA Sports College Football 26 Reviews

I’d like to preface this review by saying I did not play College Football 25. Hell, I’m not even a big college football fan. I enjoy the sport a lot, but I really only follow the NFL and play the Madden games. My first thought with seeing College Football 26 was “so it’s basically Madden with added college flair and fanfare with players I won’t know.” For the most part, I was absolutely correct. However, that doesn’t take away that this is a good entry into the football sim genr...

College Football 26 is a significant refinement from last year, particularly in terms of realistic gameplay and an authentic college football experience. But you'll have to contend with a troublesome Wear and Tear system, and occasionally braindead AI in specific modes.

EA Sports College Football 26 brings quality improvements that build nicely upon the foundation laid by last year's release. No upgrades are revolutionary, but they don't necessarily need to be. However, bugs and a lack of quality tutorials leave some to be desired. Regardless, for college football fans, this is still the ultimate experience to bring game days with you anytime, anywhere.

College Football 26 is a triumphant, if imperfect, return to the gridiron. It successfully captures the spirit, passion, and strategic depth that make college football the beloved institution it is. The core gameplay is fantastic, and the immersive Dynasty Mode provides hundreds of hours of rewarding team-building. While marred by repetitive commentary and a smattering of intrusive bugs, the foundation here is rock-solid. For fans of college football, it’s an essential purchase. It’s still not a flawless champion just yet, but its potential to build a long-lasting dynasty is undeniable.

EA Sports College Football 26 builds on its solid foundations and celebrates what makes the college experience and its teams so unique.

EA released College Football 25 last year, which became not only a cultural revolution, but one of the most-praised football video games of all time. The amount of love and authenticity that went into that title felt like a rare spark in the industry. How does one follow up with that? By doubling down on that love and authenticity for college football while addressing the most requested community inquiries. College Football 26 adds so many little things while overhauling one major aspect: gameplay. The introduction of the physics-based engine that's seen in the Madden series will be what truly determines if this game wins over the community like the previous title.

EA Sports College Football 26 is a step forward in the right direction and builds really well from where CFB 25 left off. There are plenty of quality of life additions from menus and UI to even more sliders and options for players for the various game modes.

College Football takes everything from last year and moves it forward a little bit, with the stadium atmosphere, lighting, and quality of life updates taking the star position. Dynasty and Road to Glory have both gotten much-needed tweaks from last year and much-needed attention to detail, especially in the menus. While there are many upgrades from College Football 25, College Football 26 suffers from a lot of little issues, which create frustrating moments in multiple areas. Time seems to ha...

EA Sports College Football 26 is a clear improvement upon its predecessor and delivers the best sports gaming experience of the year. While one of its modes falls short, the whole package is terrific and a must-play for football fans.

College Football 26's Ultimate Team mode continues to be what it was in last year's game, and has been in Madden for years: a polarizing grind with a monetization problem. For some, the grind of Ultimate Team mode is appealing, and I can understand the general appeal of climbing the ladder in a competitive multiplayer mode. However, I still find it hard to sink extra money into a game mode that will essentially reset when next year's game comes out. You know what you're getting with Ultimate Team mode, so you probably already know if it's for you or not.

EA Sports College Football 26 is the second game in the revival of the franchise. After a solid debut, CFB 26 adds more to the mix with big improvements to neglected modes and presentation.

Last year signaled the return of EA’s collegiate football franchise for the first time in over a decade. College Football 25 was not just a big success; it was one of the best sports games of 2024. Like a standout freshman bursting onto the scene, College Football 25 was a pleasant surprise, but College Football 26 aptly demonstrates it wasn’t just beginner’s luck, delivering an equally impressive sophomore effort.

EA Sports College Football 26 is bigger and better in every way than last year’s revival of the franchise. More realism, tighter gameplay, and even crossplay for its Dynasty mode usher in one of the best American Football games I’ve ever played.