A huge title update is coming for CFB 26 on the XBOX Series X/S and PlayStation 5. You can view the details below or at the EA Sports website.
Gameplay
Pass Blocking & Pass Rush
- Added option to set Base Protection by default.
- DEV NOTE: For players who don’t want built-in pass protections on passing plays, we have included a new Coaching Adjustment to allow players to elect Base Protection as the default protection for all dropback passing plays. When toggling this option, players will still have the ability to change their protection before the play via the Pass Protection adjustments menu.
- Corrected Blocking Protection UI from popping up in unintended scenarios.
- Fixed an issue causing unintentional offensive line slide when using the Untarget Defender mechanic.
- Fixed an issue allowing defenders to be slanted into the same gap in 4-man defensive fronts.
- Tuning to improve unnecessary target swapping/switching in empty pass protection.
- Updated slide protection visuals to reflect target changes during auto-motion plays.
- Tuning defensive tackle bull-rush behavior near the goal line to better react to scrambling QB’s.
- Tuning to reduce Illegal Man Downfield penalties caused by block steering and play-action bootleg plays.
- Tuning to reduce the pass set depth of the offensive tackle against Nickel Single Mug Right Exit 2-man stunts.
- Tuning to reduce the pass set depth of the offensive tackle against Nickel Single Mug Right Exit 2-man stunts.
Coverage
- Updated hook defender depth with underneath coverage adjustment to play at 5 yards.
- Updated hook defender depth with over-the-top coverage adjustment to play at 12-18 yards.
- Updated vertical hook zone so that it won’t match when using coaching adjustments or custom zone stems.
- Updated 3 Rec Hook match logic to better defend a swing route from the opposite side of the formation and behind the line of scrimmage.
- Updated press animation logic to ensure defenders match user-called press at the Line of Scrimmage.
- Updated Cover 9 logic to improve coverage by the 3 rec hook defender guarding the running back crossing the field.
Catching
- Fixed an issue allowing receivers to hang on to too many passes instead of getting the ball knocked out in traffic.
- Tuning to reduce chances of contest mid-air hit from behind animation.
- Improved some situations where collisions with the WR at the snap would disrupt the time of the route.
Playbook Content
- Added new Odd Ghost defensive formation (found in 3-3-5 & 3-2-6 playbooks).
- Corrected poor WR spacing and awkward motion animations across multiple formations.
- Fixed missing play action animations in specific plays.
- Resolved issues with Jet Reverse Pass being unthrowable when flipped.
- Removed duplicate plays and corrected button mappings.
- Addressed illegal formations caused by TE motion in various sets.
- Tuned Flexbone option play speed for consistency across handedness.
- Corrected RPO Peek Glance behavior to match intended logic.
- Fixed auto-motion receiver collisions with QB.
Run Game
- Enabled QB juke moves for HB/WR in wildcat formations.
- Fixed an issue where QB speed burst was not working as intended.
- Tuned power shed frequency and improved edge leverage behavior on outside runs.
- Fixed an rare issue where the center’s initial movement was incorrect at the snap.
- Fixed an issue where sometimes an inside zone handoff was using the outside zone handoff animation.
Alignment & Formation Logic
- Resolved defensive front flipping and zone art crossing during hurry-up scenarios.
- Fixed an issue causing an OLB to stack behind the MLB when reacting to tight end motion.
- Fixed alignment of play art in Nickel Over Cover 3 Sky.
- Tuned DT alignment logic to prevent stacking in specific play combos.
- Updated AI defense logic to properly align over outside WRs in goal line sets.
- Fixed duplicate jersey numbers for offensive linemen on the field.
Hot Routes & Audibles
- Updated logic so the offense cannot instantly flip the play or audible when walking to the line from the huddle.
- Tuning to better balance hot-route timing between elite and lower-rated QBs.
- DEV NOTE: Updated the delay for consistency between all QBs regardless of the animation they triggered. Some animations would take a longer time to finish and it would inhibit a user’s ability to quickly make adjustments. Now all QBs have the same time delay in between adjustments.
- Tuning to hot-route time delay time to make the timing in under-center formations more consistent with Gun and Pistol.
- Fixed an issue allowing the offense to rapidly hot route after pass-blocking the running back.
- Resized UI indicator for audibles to appropriate scale.
Run Defense
- Tuned assignment flow consistency between RPO Alert Keys and Peek Logic.
- Added logic for Edges to “play the QB” on Boot Naked runs when in a contain assignment.
Passing
- Resolved Freeform Passing Reticle snapping back to initial location.
Signature Animations & Celebrations
- Addressed secure catch animations being interrupted by touchdown post-play.
- Corrected getup animations for user-controlled players post-throw.
- Tuned hand alignment in celebration animations.
- Fixed QB hitching during post-play animations.
AI Logic & Coaching Adjustments
- Tuned AI defensive playcalling to avoid prevent in 2-minute drill.
- Updated AI logic to avoid goal line defense vs 4 WR sets.
- Added Safety Coaching Adjustment Depth Option (16 Yards).
- Corrected spelling of “Wide Receiver” in the substitution screen.
Special Teams
- Improved lead blocker decision-making on kick returns.
- Adjusted kick returner alignment to ensure reachability on onside kicks.
Dynasty
- Fixed an issue where complimentary and competitive visits would not show properly in offseason recruiting.
- Fixed an issue where the Encourage Transfers spreadsheet was auto sorting by speed.
- Fixed an issue in Encourage Transfers where the roster size counter would display incorrectly after viewing a player card.
- Fixed an issue where players were not earning enough XP when manual progression was set to on.
- Fixed an issue where offseason visits were not giving enough influence.
- Fixed an issue in Training Results where two users in an Online Dynasty couldn’t manually progress players at the same time.
- Fixed an issue where playing style stats were not calculating correctly for some positions.
- Fixed an issue where the Team Needs module was double counting signed players at each position.
- Improved Logic around Playing Time Dealbreakers when other players at a position enter the Pro Draft.
- Fixed an issue that caused incorrect Playing Time Grades to display for the school that a player left in the Transfer Portal due to Playing Time.
- Fixed an issue where career records broken included stats earned at a different school.
- Fixed an issue that caused Scheduled Visits in the Offseason to process a week later than they should.
- Fixed an issue where you could see Dealbreakers of players on another user’s team in Online Dynasty.
- Increased the size of a player’s season health pool at the start of the next season. Note: The size of the season health pool is still determined based on how full it is at the end of the season. This change makes the size more forgiving if a player uses most of their current year health.
- Fixed an exploit allowing you to have multiple visits with the same recruit.
- Fixed an issue where Defensive Tackle did not appear in the Wear and Tear auto subs menu.
- Fixed an issue where the Trophy Room team banner would not properly update to the current school.
- Fixed an issue where completions showed as 0 in the post game box score.
- Updated the Jim Thorpe award to be Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
- Fixed an issue where you could not uncheck ready to advance in an Online Dynasty.
- Weekly Summary will now show when a player is visiting in the current week.
- Updated SMU field to grass.
