What Is the Texas Fourman Stunt in College Football 27?
The Texas Fourman is a defensive line stunt where both ends loop inside. You can see their route arrows on screen before the snap. Last year this stunt was getting to the QB. This year it's not doing that. What it IS doing is coming free on inside runs. Consistently.
Run it right and your DE shows up in the backfield before the offense can adjust. Run it wrong, wrong formation, wrong front, and it does nothing.
Here's exactly how to run it.
---How to Set Up the Texas Fourman Stunt
Step 1: Get the Right Front
This stunt only works if you have four players on the defensive line. Not five. Not three. Four.
This trips people up because the formation name doesn't always tell you what's actually on the line.
- Nickel 3-3 Over Jack. USE THIS. The game registers four DL even though the name says 3-3. It works.
- 3-4 Grizzly. DO NOT USE. Five people on the line. Only three are actual DL. Stunt won't fire right.
- 3-4 Tight. DO NOT USE. Same problem as Grizzly.
Don't guess. Check the line. If you don't have four DL, move on to a different formation before you do anything else.
Step 2: Call the Stunt
Two ways to get there:
- Hold the play icon down and scroll all the way to the bottom. Texas Fourman is there.
- Call it from the line of scrimmage: Left on right stick + Right Bumper. Then use the D-pad to find Texas Fourman.
Option 2 is faster once you know where it lives on the D-pad.
Step 3: Spread the DLine (Optional but Worth Doing)
After you call the stunt. Left on right stick + Up on left stick to spread your linemen.
Spreading them opens gaps wider. When the ends loop inside from a wider alignment, they come free more often against inside runs. You don't HAVE to spread them. But it helps.
One thing to know: the spread command changes depending on your formation. Play around with it before you rely on it in a game.
---When Does the Texas Fourman Actually Work?
Inside runs. That's it.
- Inside zone. Yes.
- Power O up the middle. Yes.
- Outside zone - no. The ends are looping inside. They're gone.
- Halfback sweep - no. Same problem.
Don't think of this as a base defense you run every play. Think of it as a called shot when you read the offense loading up for an inside run.
---What Counters the Texas Fourman?
If your opponent figures out you're running this, or if YOU are the one facing it, the answer is simple.
Go outside.
- Outside zones
- Halfback sweeps
Both ends are crashing inside on the stunt. The edges are wide open. A sweep or outside zone to either side should get to the perimeter before the defense can recover.
This is why you don't spam Texas Fourman. Mix it in. If the offense starts going outside every play because they know it's coming, you've telegraphed it and they've already adjusted.
---What Is the El Paso Fourman and When Should You Use It?
El Paso Fourman is the opposite stunt. Instead of the ends looping inside, the DTs get outside.
Same call, Left on right stick + Right Bumper, then D-pad over to El Paso Fourman.
Run Texas Fourman and the offense starts bouncing everything outside? Flip to El Paso. Now your DTs are out there. It keeps the offense guessing and opens up different run lanes for your defenders.
You can also macro these stunts ahead of time. Set them up before the snap so you're not scrambling through menus at the line. Worth learning if you're going to use stunts regularly.
---Common Mistakes Running the Texas Fourman
- Wrong formation. 3-4 Grizzly and 3-4 Tight look like they should work. They don't. Stick with Nickel 3-3 Over Jack.
- Running it against outside plays. Your ends are going inside. The edge is gone. Outside runs will hurt you bad.
- Running it every play. Once the offense sees it, they go outside and you're done. Call it. Don't live in it.
- Expecting pressure on the QB. That's not what this does in CF27. It stops inside runs. Different job than last year.
Quick Reference
- Formation: Nickel 3-3 Over Jack
- Call it: Hold play icon → scroll to bottom OR Left RS + RB → D-pad to Texas Fourman
- Spread DL: Left RS + Up LS
- Best against: Inside runs
- Counter with: Outside zones, HB sweeps
- Flip stunt: El Paso Fourman. Same input, DTs go outside instead