Ready to relive the glory days of college football on your console? EA Sports College Football 25 brings the excitement, strategy, and pageantry of the gridiron back after more than a decade, but mastering its revamped mechanics takes more than just passion. Whether you’re diving into Dynasty mode or building your Ultimate Team, these 9 beginner’s tips will help you dominate the field from kickoff to the final whistle, ensuring you’re not just playing the game-you’re owning it.
To help you hit the ground running, here are some of our best EA Sports College Football 25 beginner’s tips for you to keep in mind as you’re starting out, whether you’re jumping into your first big Dynasty or collecting the best cards possible in Ultimate Team.
Choose your favorite team
When starting EA Sports College Football 25, one of the first and most exciting choices you’ll make is selecting your favorite team. This choice not only customizes the look of your main menu and the initial team selection screen but also offers a bonus in Ultimate Team mode. With all 134 FBS teams included-from powerhouses like Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State to dynamic squads like Coastal Carolina and BYU-you have a vast array of options to find the team that best fits your play style and college football passion.
When you first start up College Football 25, the game will prompt you to select your favorite team. While this will mostly affect the look of the main menu, and which school the game starts you on in the team select screen, it also has a bonus in Ultimate Team.
To get you started in Ultimate Team, the game will generate a fresh squad for you that includes several players from your favorite team. While this might make it seem like you should pick the best team you can, they’ll all result in a roster that’s a 65 overall, and you’ll quickly replace the players you get from it. So don’t overthink this one; just pick your favorite team and don’t worry too much about the Ultimate Team roster it’ll give you.
Start with some Ultimate Team challenges first
Before diving into other game modes, it’s best to start with some Ultimate Team challenges in EA Sports College Football 25. These challenges, especially the Ultimate Team 101 series, are designed to familiarize you with the game’s updated mechanics like passing, option plays, and kicking. Completing them not only helps you get comfortable with the gameplay but also rewards you with valuable items, Packs, and in-game currency (Coins) that are essential for building and upgrading your team. Tackling these challenges early on sets a solid foundation for your Ultimate Team journey and prepares you for more advanced gameplay ahead.
If you’re a virtual college football veteran, you’re probably itching to jump straight into your first Dynasty. But College Football 25 has a lot of changes from the previous version of the game, and the easiest way to get a handle on those changes is through Ultimate Team’s Challenges, even if you don’t plan on spending much time in the mode overall.
More specifically, you should run through the Ultimate Team 101 Challenges as soon as you start the game. These will feel a little basic, but they should help you get used to the new passing mechanics, the newly rebuilt option plays (which use a different control scheme than before), and the new kicking mechanics.
Find your perfect playbook
Finding your perfect playbook in EA Sports College Football 25 is key to mastering the game and tailoring your strategy to your playstyle. With over 100 unique playbooks and 10 different offensive schemes available, the choice can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the game’s Ultimate Team mode offers Offense and Defense Scheme Trials that let you test various playbooks and understand their strengths and weaknesses before committing. Experimenting with different playbooks helps you discover which align best with your team’s strengths and your preferred tactics, giving you a strategic edge whether you’re playing Dynasty, Road to Glory, or online matches.
College Football 25 has more than 100 unique playbooks and 10 different offensive schemes, which can make picking the one you want to use a little daunting. Thankfully, Ultimate Team’s Challenges come in clutch once again with the Offense and Defense Scheme Trials Challenges.
These challenges are designed to give you a taste of each scheme, from Air Raid to Spread Option, as well as show you which teams use each one. This should give you a solid baseline for your first few games, and is a perfect place to start experimenting from.
Jump into some games
To get the most out of EA Sports College Football 25, the best way to learn is by jumping into some games with your favorite team. This hands-on experience lets you apply what you’ve learned from tutorials and challenges, helping you get comfortable with the new passing mechanics, option plays, and kicking system. Start with a few matches to get a feel for the gameplay flow, then experiment with different playbooks and NCAA stars to find your style. Playing regularly will sharpen your skills and deepen your understanding of the game’s strategic depth.
All this prepping and planning is great, but at the end of the day, the point of this game is to play it – and that’s a great way to learn, too. Put in a few games with your favorite school, then once you have the hang of things, switch it up and experiment with some other playbooks and NCAA stars.
Experiment with the Switch Stick
The Switch Stick in EA Sports College Football 25 is a powerful defensive feature that allows you to quickly switch control between defenders in pass coverage by flicking the right thumbstick toward the player you want to control. This lets you react swiftly to receivers getting open and increases your chances of making interceptions or key defensive plays. The Switch Stick only works after the ball is snapped and before the quarterback throws, so timing and practice are essential to avoid leaving receivers uncovered. Mastering this mechanic can give you a significant edge on defense by helping you cover more ground and jump routes effectively.
One of College Football 25’s new features is called the Switch Stick, which allows you to swap players in the defensive secondary with more precision than the one-button switches in previous games. This may not sound like much, but it can actually make a huge difference – for example, if you’re trying to swap to a safety to cut off a route rather than a cornerback who’s already in coverage.
But to make the most of the Switch Stick’s potential, you’re gonna have to experiment with it quite a bit. The best way to do that is just grinding out some games, but you’ll probably give up some embarrassing touchdowns while you’re experimenting, so it’s best to keep these to Play Now.
Start Dynasty mode with a dry run
When starting Dynasty mode in EA Sports College Football 25, it’s highly recommended to begin with a dry run. This means creating a test Dynasty with a team you don’t mind experimenting with, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the complex menus and new features without risking important progress or recruits. This approach helps you get a feel for the gameplay and management aspects before committing to your main Dynasty, reducing costly mistakes and improving your overall experience in this deep and intricate mode.
Dynasty mode is really the star of College Football 25, with all kinds of new additions to the formula that made it great over a decade ago. But with all these new features, the mode is now even more complicated – and there’s a lot to mix up in the menus. After all, if you’re aiming to build a Group of Five conference from the ground up to the College Football Playoffs, the last thing you need is to lose a five-star recruit because you pressed the wrong button in a menu.
That’s why we think you should create a test Dynasty before the one you’re really committing to. Start with a school you don’t care too much about so the mistakes won’t matter to you. You could even start with an existing powerhouse – that way, you get a taste of what it’s like to land recruits and have some pull before you turn it up to hard mode and try turning Old Dominion into a top-ranked program.
Play every Solo Battle you can
Playing every Solo Battle you can in EA Sports College Football 25 is essential for building and improving your Ultimate Team. Solo Battles pit you against AI-controlled versions of other players’ rosters, providing a stress-free yet challenging environment to test your skills and strategies. You can play up to four matches daily during each event cycle, with difficulty levels ranging from Freshman to Heisman, allowing you to tailor the challenge to your comfort and skill level. The rewards from Solo Battles-coins, player packs, and exclusive items-are valuable for upgrading your team and progressing in the game. Moreover, consistent participation helps you practice without pressure, build confidence, and earn steady rewards even if you’re not at the top of the leaderboard. This makes Solo Battles a perfect mode for both learning and advancing in College Football 25 Ultimate Team.
[Ed. note: Ultimate Team isn’t necessarily for everyone. So if you’re mostly concerned with the Road to Glory and Dynasty modes, you needn’t worry about these next few tips – they’re for Ultimate Team players only.]
Solo Battles in Ultimate Team are a mode that puts you head to head against another player’s Ultimate Team roster. The twist is that it’s played by the computer, not the player that made it. Each Solo Battle grants you more rewards than a regular game against the AI might – like Solo Season games, for instance.
Solo Battles are technically community events that each last about four days. Within that time, everyone plays against the same user-created rosters. New match-ups appear each morning, and you can play four of them a day. Each game earns you Battle Score based on how high the difficulty was, how you played, and whether you won the game. At the end of each four-day event, scores will be totaled, a leaderboard will be created with the top performers, and everyone will get special rewards based on how well they did.
Check in on Sets
When starting out in EA Sports College Football 25, it’s essential to check in on your sets regularly to optimize your gameplay. The game features over 130 playbooks and multiple offensive and defensive schemes, so taking the time to review and customize your playbooks can give you a strategic edge. You can create custom playbooks by adding or removing plays to suit your style, and enable them in your game settings. This flexibility allows you to adapt your tactics and better counter your opponents. Additionally, practicing with Ultimate Team’s challenges helps familiarize you with different schemes and play styles, making your sets more effective on the field.
Sets are an Ultimate Team mechanic that lets you turn several lower-rated players into a single player with a higher overall rating. You won’t have to worry about this too much early on, but as you upgrade your team, make sure to check in on the Sets menu to see if you can turn any of your old unwanted players into meaningful upgrades.
Buy the Ultimate Team daily recruit pack
Buying the Ultimate Team daily recruit pack in EA Sports College Football 25 is a smart move for beginners looking to quickly enhance their team. These daily recruit packs provide valuable player items and resources that help you build and upgrade your dream college football squad. By regularly purchasing these packs, you gain access to new players and items that can boost your team’s overall rating and chemistry, giving you a competitive edge in Challenges, Solo Seasons, and Head-to-Head modes. This steady influx of players and upgrades accelerates your progress and helps you create a powerful lineup tailored to your preferred playstyle.
What are the most crucial gameplay mechanics I should master first in College Football 25
The most crucial gameplay mechanics to master first in EA Sports College Football 25 include:
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Quick Passing and Ball Control: Getting the ball out early is vital to avoid sacks and turnovers. Learn to pass quickly and efficiently, using the pass lead function to throw away from defenders and improve catch success.
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Run-Pass Option (RPO) Mastery: Understanding and effectively using RPO plays, where the quarterback can hand off, keep, or pass the ball based on defensive reads, is key to offensive success.
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Receiver Route Management: Always have multiple passing options on each play and progress through your reads methodically to avoid forced throws and interceptions. Use the right stick to playmaker receivers into open space for big plays.
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Defensive Awareness and Blitz Recognition: Be prepared for aggressive blitzes, especially online. Passing quickly or throwing the ball away can minimize losses. On defense, learn to switch control quickly to cover developing routes and anticipate plays.
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Catching Techniques: Master the three types of catches-run after catch, possession catch, and aggressive catch-to optimize yardage and secure receptions depending on defensive pressure.
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Kicking Accuracy: Avoid kicking at full power to maintain accuracy on field goals and extra points. Focus on directional control and power meter management for consistent kicking performance.
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Pocket Movement: Practice climbing the pocket to avoid sacks and create throwing lanes instead of dropping back too far, which can reduce throwing effectiveness and scramble opportunities.
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Playbook Familiarity: Study and customize offensive and defensive playbooks to suit your team’s strengths and your play style, enhancing strategic advantage.
Mastering these mechanics will provide a solid foundation for both offense and defense, helping you to compete effectively in College Football 25.
How important is mastering ball protection and getting out of bounds early
Mastering ball protection and getting out of bounds early are highly important in EA Sports College Football 25 for maintaining possession and avoiding turnovers. Effective ball control-using correct body positioning, close control, and timely movements-helps you evade defenders and keep the ball secure in tight situations, which is crucial to sustaining offensive drives. Similarly, knowing when and how to get out of bounds early can prevent unnecessary tackles and clock stoppages, giving your team a strategic advantage by preserving yardage and momentum. Quick decisions to step out of bounds or throw the ball away under pressure reduce the risk of sacks and turnovers, making these skills essential for successful gameplay.
