Why I QUIT These 5 Plays | College Football 26

TL;DR: Stop running these 5 plays that are killing your game in College Football 26

• Cover Zero vs The Run — Sells out but gives up huge plays. Run Cover Three Sky instead
• Deep Crossers/Corners Only — Takes forever to develop. Add underneath routes for quick options
• Zone Blitzes — Coverage breaks down every time. Stick to 4-man pressure
• Under Center Offenses — Run game isn't better than shotgun. Pass to set up the run instead
• Over The Middle RPOs — Too risky against users. Switch to horizontal RPOs

Look — I used to run ALL of these plays. Every single one. And they cost me games until I figured out better options. Here's exactly what to quit and what to run instead.

Why Is Cover Zero Bad Against The Run?

If I told you, "Hey, we had to sell out for run defense" — there's a good chance your defense would look like Cover Zero. Some sort of heavy blitz to sell out for the run.

Makes sense, right? If we're blitzing everybody there's a good chance we blow that up in the backfield. Everyone's just attacking the ball carrier.

But here's the issue — if they get past that first wave, if someone misses a tackle, you're BEGGING for a massive run.

For every time you blow up a run play using Cover Zero, you're also begging for a house call. And you've probably seen this happen to you.

Even worse? Cover Zero is actually REALLY BAD pass defense. Look, we have man coverage across the board. If they run any sort of pass play that's relatively good, there's a good chance they're going to have someone wide open.

Post routes? Wide open. Another big play. This isn't what we want to do.

What Should I Run Instead of Cover Zero?

Call Cover Three Sky. I don't care about what formation you're in. This works from all types of formations and playbooks.

Here's exactly how to run it:

1. Call Cover Three Sky
2. User the high safety — stay about 10 yards back
3. Press Y/Triangle and go down on the right stick for basic Cover Three
4. If they run — flow over top to the ball carrier
5. If they pass — you're already in good position

Want to make this better? Pinch your defensive line.

These two things combined will blow up the run enough times and prevent big runs. You're playing bend but don't break defense.

This is one free tip on stopping the run. Members get the full Dime Normal defensive scheme with 15+ more plays, updated weekly. → civil.gg/become-a-member

What If They Run Play Action From Cover Three Sky?

Slow play EVERYTHING.

• Play up initially
• Switch stick down for extra help
• If you read pass — flick that right stick down to get on a hook curl
• NEVER sprint straight down — always sprint at a little bit of an angle

They get eight yards sometimes? Not the end of the world. You're not giving up random one-play touchdowns.

Why Should I Stop Throwing Only Deep Crossers and Corners?

I was ADDICTED to only throwing deep crossers and corner routes 24/7 in College Football. Eventually I realized this wasn't the best way to play offense.

While these deep corners or deep crossers look really nice — plays like this require SO MUCH time to develop in the pocket.

It's unrealistic to consistently hit them. Even when the route is great.

Look, RB crosser is awesome when you hit it. But it happens at such a low percentage. I don't want you stuck running these.

Deep corner route? Just a streak by itself? This takes FOREVER.

How Do I Fix My Deep Route Addiction?

I've quit calling plays that have nothing happening underneath.

Let's say you want that deep crossing route from RB. Add:

• A on a drag
• B on a drag or baby in route

Now within a second — boom, bang — easy dot.

Every pass play should have an option you can throw within one second. If you don't, question whether that pass play is very good.

Example with corner routes:

• Add a zig route — gets open early
• Add a Texas route — takes about a second and a half

Instead of ONLY waiting for that deep developing corner route.

Quit going for big time shots all the time. Be willing to throw underneath.

So many yards can be found throwing underneath. Make somebody miss. Simple drag route? Gain of eight. Really simple read.

Attack underneath FIRST. This opens up over top for you.

What's Wrong With Zone Blitzes in College Football 26?

I quit zone blitzes — at least how most people try running these bad boys.

Here's the issue with zone blitzes — the coverage BREAKS DOWN.

Example: Nickel Two Fork formation running Cover Three Zone Blitz

• Slot corner is blitzing
• Deep safety drops to flat zone
• This leaves the ENTIRE SEAM WIDE OPEN

Compare to normal Cover Three:

• Slot defender stays in flat zone
• Safety covers deep middle third

When you blitz from the strong side (which most zone blitzes do), that safety rolls from the wrong side and vacates his area. Easy seam throw EVERY TIME.

Why Does Match Coverage Make Zone Blitzes Worse?

A lot of these zone blitzes are match coverage. And Cover Three blitzing match is NOT very good.

• Simple drag routes? Open every time
• Crossers? Wide open
• Basic route combos? Big plays waiting to happen

If you're giving up one-play touchdowns, it's probably because of these coverage holes.

What Should I Run Instead of Zone Blitzes?

Rule of thumb in College Football 26: Run a four to five man blitz at most. Ideally closer to four-man.

Better options:

1. Makeshift Zone Blitzes — Take a Cover Six with stunts. Don't rely on actual zone blitz plays
2. Custom Adjustments — Example with Overload Three Seam:
   • Take high safety → put him in deep half
   • Move outside corner → flat coverage
   • Now you protect that seam
3. Four-Man Pressure:
   • Texas Four-Man
   • Tom Two-Man
   • Pirate Three-Man
   • El Paso Four-Man (popular choice)

College Football 26 just isn't a great blitzing game right now.

Zone blitzes do more damage than good for most people. The pressure isn't good enough to justify giving up easy completions.

Should I Run Under Center Offenses in College Football 26?

Fun fact — I got into competitive Madden back in Madden 17 because I was a massive Georgia Tech fan. That means I loved under center option football.

In high school, we ran full house T. Also known as split T wing T. Ground and pound type team. I played offensive guard. Pulling was one of my favorite things in the world.

But the run game doesn't love you back — at least not in video game football.

What Are The Three Problems With Under Center?

1. Run Game Isn't Better Than Shotgun
   • Shotgun has great runs
   • RPOs from shotgun are better
   • Shotgun's objectively better or at least equivalent
2. Play Action Doesn't Work
   • User linebackers don't bite on play action
   • Blocking on play action isn't great
   • DBs don't bite down at all
3. Dropback Passing Is Better From Shotgun
   • More time in the pocket
   • Better routes from the game
   • More unique routes — short posts, deep corners, wheels

How Can I Still Be Run Heavy?

Find shotgun formations that have a good run play or two. Build from there.

Gun Wild Trips Formation (found in lots of playbooks):

• RPO Read Y Flat — really good RPO play
• Halfback Draw — pretty solid
• Inside Zone — good in some playbooks
• Halfback Dive or Duo — incredibly good

Here's the mindset change — in real life, you run to set up pass.

In video game football, we need to PASS to set up the RUN.

The pass game is overpowered. Defenses get into glitch blitzes to counter you. This opens up your run game if you're calling good runs like dive, duo, RPO Read Y Flat.

Which RPOs Should I Stop Running?

The RPOs I'm talking about have slants and hitches. You can find them in pretty much every single playbook.

The reality? Against another user, these become incredibly risky. A user defender in the middle can:

• Bait this throw
• Play both run and pass
• Make this an incredibly scary throw

From playing competitively:

• The reward for making the right read on something like a flat isn't there
• The risk from throwing slants is SO HIGH — not worth it
• The handoff is almost always significantly slower because the QB holds the ball to make the read

What RPOs Actually Work?

Find all your options: Go to concept → option → RPO read, peak, and alert.

RPO Read Flat Wheel

Anything that gets you going HORIZONTAL. Put both outside receivers on flats. This lets you throw horizontally — a lot safer and significantly easier read.

RPO Bubble

One of my favorite styles. RPO bubbles are:

• Very safe
• Super easy reads
• Usually pretty good handoffs

Run these out of trips formation. They work from doubles too, but trips is my favorite.

I have NEVER in all the years RPOs have been in the game lost to somebody who throws RPOs over the middle as a big part of their offense.

When I see someone throwing RPO slants, I get EXCITED.

So much of this game comes down to making sure you're not calling the wrong plays. At civil.gg, we give you the right play calls with full offensive and defensive schemes designed to help you win more games.

You can learn the core plays in under 20 minutes. Less than 20 minutes from now, you could be winning more games.