In past EA football titles, I heavily leaned toward zone coverage, enjoying the strategy of CUT 26 Coins confusing opponents with zone rotations and blitz packages. Man coverage has historically been less effective because routes like corners, posts, slants, drags, and whips would consistently beat defenders, even if they had special man coverage abilities.

This year, EA introduced a groundbreaking addition: the ability to predict and counter specific route tendencies within man coverage. If you know an opponent frequently uses a slot receiver on slant routes, you can instruct your slot corner to defend the inside field, completely shutting down the route. This works across multiple routes, including whip routes, corners, and posts.

However, it comes with a gamble. Predict the wrong direction, and your defender will be out of position, leaving the receiver wide open. This risk-reward system prevents man coverage from becoming overpowered and rewards players who study their opponents' habits. I still favor zone as my default strategy, but man coverage now holds real potential as a complementary option in my defensive schemes.

Dynasty Mode Requires Strategy
Dynasty Mode has always been my favorite way to experience college football gaming, and EA Sports College Football 26 makes it better than ever. The revamped recruiting system adds an entirely new layer of strategy. Gone are the days of loading up on five-star recruits and cruising to national championships.

In my first season as UTSA's head coach, I approached recruiting with my old mindset: chase top-ranked players without regard for system fits or dealbreakers. My 8-4 season ended in disaster as 21 players transferred out, devastating my roster. I also lost several recruiting battles thanks to EA's new "dynamic dealbreakers" system, which forces coaches to be more selective and strategic.

Now, choosing the right players for your scheme and balancing short-term needs with long-term development is vital. Coaches must prepare contingency plans for likely transfer departures while also aligning recruiting classes with the program's core philosophies. This intentional approach creates deeper immersion and prevents players from cheap CUT 26 Coins dominating simply by stockpiling talent.