Want to win EVERY game in College Football 26? Start doing these seven things right now. The first one — highballing — is the difference between throwing picks and throwing touchdowns. Most people don't even know it exists.
How Do You Throw High Passes to Avoid Interceptions?
Hold left bumper (or L1 on PlayStation) while making the throw. That's it. You're doing what's called a high pass.
This puts the ball at its highest point to make sure your receiver catches it above their head.
- Hold left bumper or L1 as you're holding the receiver icon
- I like to pair this with a bullet pass
Keep in mind — when you highball, you CAN overthrow your receiver. This isn't some overpowered thing. It's a risk-reward situation where:
- You'll probably get the ball up higher and avoid a defender
- BUT you could overthrow your player
- You could lead him out of bounds
When to use it: Simply when there is a defender between you and your receiver.
Perfect example: Number one is underneath my receiver. If I don't highball this, it has a high chance of getting deflected, picked off, whatever.
- Hold left bumper
- Pass lead with the left stick
- Pinpoint that pass just over the defender
- Get it there fast
- Throw a dot
This is the difference between throwing interceptions and throwing completions.
How to Flip HB Direct Snap to Attack Weak Side
You can actually flip halfback direct snaps with the right stick. This one's out of Oregon State's playbook — my favorite playbook in the game.
Gun Trio Wide Receiver Strong — call Halfback Direct Snap. Use the right stick and flip it. Notice we're going to the right. Well, if I saw that the left side was a little bit weaker, maybe they're overloading the right side. Use that right stick and just flip.
Now we're going halfback direct snap to the left. Your QB even lead blocks for you.
You're reading what side of the defense looks weaker. In certain situations, it really makes a lot of sense.
Another great halfback direct snap — Gun Tight Slot Open. Call Halfback Direct Snap. Again, with the right stick, we can flip this from the right side to the left side.
These are great for short yardage, by the way.
How Do You Stop RPOs on Defense?
Defending RPOs can be kind of hard in College 26. These are plays that you should be running on offense, but here's two different ways to stop them.
Strategy 1: Man Coverage (Easy but Limited)
Call any man coverage play. This can be really good against RPOs. Why? Because every receiver has somebody right on top of them. So really, no matter what they do RPO wise, you're covered.
The limitation: You're stuck running man coverage, which I don't love running.
Strategy 2: Zone with Slot Corner Adjustments (Recommended)
Call something with a slot corner:
- Nickel
- Dime
- Some 4-2-5 stuff
- Some 3-3-5 stuff
Just something where we have a little bit of speed on the edge and an extra defender who's not in the box.
Step 1: Get your slot corner in a hard flat
Two ways to do this:
- If he's in a hook curl: Press A on him and then left on the left stick
- If he's already in a flat zone (like Cover 3 curl flat): Press Y or Triangle and down on the right stick
Step 2: Move him inside manually
Move your slot corner in a few steps manually. When we do this, the blockers just don't do a great job blocking him because of the inside leverage.
This is one free tip on defending RPOs. Members get the full Defensive Scheme with 20+ more adjustments, updated weekly. → civil.gg/become-a-member
How to Audible From Five Wide to Goal Line
Your audibles are based on the personnel you have on the field. But there's a trick.
In the formation screen — if you tap Y or Triangle, you can actually make substitutions to each player.
To audible to something like goal line, you just need to match the personnel of goal line.
Goal line has:
- Three tight ends
- Two halfbacks
Setting It Up:
- Select one of your wide receivers — replace him with a tight end
- Select another wide receiver — replace him with a tight end
- Get two halfbacks on the field (or a fullback)
Now when you come out in five wide — tap X or Square and use the D-pad. You're able to audible over to every formation who matches this personnel.
This makes this a super powerful short yardage thing where on fourth and inches, you can come out in five wide and say "Ah, I actually don't like the look" and audible to goal line.
Important: You have to set your formation subs every single game unless you're in dynasty. Do it to start each game and just take a delay or burn a timeout.
What's the Best Two-Man Route Combo?
This is one of the best two-man route combos in the game. Works against both man coverage and zone coverage.
You can run this from any offense. It literally does not matter.
Setup:
Step 1: Outside Wide Receiver
- Find your outside wide receiver (right side in this example)
- Press Y/Triangle to select that receiver (B receiver in this case)
- Press Left Trigger (L2 on PlayStation) to get him on a comeback route
Step 2: Inside Route
- Inside of him, we want to get a zig route
- If you have nobody on the inside of him, you could put a drag from the other side
- Could be a tight end drag, but we don't need that if we have the zig right here
This is a high-low read on the sideline.
We're reading between underneath to the zig — which is incredibly good if they're not playing underneath or if they're playing man coverage. You will find that he's open a lot.
If he's not there, our eyes move up to look to see if this comeback route is there.
Keep in mind, this route combo is not 100%. It could get backed, but it is a very high percentage.
How to Do the Goal Line Dolphin Dive
This isn't your normal dive. This is actually a special dive you can only do when you're close to the goal line.
When you're in a goal line situation — usually within like two to three yards:
- Press UP on the left stick
- Hold the dive button (X on Xbox, Square on PlayStation)
You can get this super dive IF there's an offensive lineman in front of you.
Notice how high you get. This is HUGE in these short yard situations.
The Setup Again:
- Hold the left stick UP in the direction you're running
- Hold X or Square
- Do this — it's a big deal
Typically, this has a very high success rate.
Which Button Changes Do You Need to Know?
Two big time button changes.
First - How to Contain
To contain we're going to press right bumper, then left bumper.
Last year it was just double tap right bumper. Now it's right bumper, then left bumper. That's R1, then L1.
Second - How to Switch Stick When You're Stuck
If you get caught on a defensive lineman but you want to still switch stick, you have to use the D-pad.
If we use right stick, we can't switch stick. But if I use the D-pad and flick it in any direction, we'll switch stick.
Key Rule: Use D-Pad First for Blitzers
If you're ever on a blitzer but you want to switch stick, you have to first use the D-pad to switch stick off of them.
Same thing applies if you're on a safety who's blitzing. You HAVE TO use the D-pad to switch stick if your player is in a blitz assignment.
Use these seven things → Score more touchdowns → Win more games.