College Football 26 Defensive Overhaul, Real Time Coaching 2.0, and more
College Football 26's first gameplay deep-dive focused on the new changes to this year's game, and the defense has been handed a complete overhaul. According to the developers, there was a general feeling that defense needed more depth and presence. This year's gameplay will offer far better defensive control and responsiveness than College Football 25. At the core of it will be the new Physics-based tackling system. Table of contents College Football 26 Defensive Overhaul explained College Football 26 Stunts explained College Football 26 Real Time Coaching 2.0 explained College Football 26 Defensive Overhaul explained Last year, EA Sports introduced a new tackle system in Madden NFL 25. This year, the technology makes its way over to College Football 26, and at its core will be the Physics-Based Tackling (PBT). Your defenders' ratings will matter more as the better ones will win more tackles and do so cleanly. Similarly, weaker defenders are likelier to lose the tackles, so focusing on your college recruitment will be necessary. Additionally, there will be new tackle types in this year's game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsKxOhw9J6g&t=2s Wrap Catch Tackles In-Range Lunge Content Unprepped Hit Sticks You can also expect better mechanics in general defense. Better timing and aiming compared to previous hit stick tackles. Enjoy better timings and aiming during Stiff Arm moves and general offense. General improvement of the core tackling system. General enhancements will be made for quarterbacks, who will also have a better progression system. Better contact accuracy on PBT tackles. Reduction in abrupt change in momentum after contact. More realistic Post-tackle movements will make the presentation look much more visually appealing. College Football 26 Stunts explained Stunts and Twists will no longer be limited to four-man rushes. Instead, you can have more freedom to disrupt assignments and create chaos on the field. Open the new sub-menu to access all available stunts and twists for a specific call. 12 unique stunt types, based on real-life tactics, will be provided for you to choose from. Screenshot via EA Sports Here's what you can do with the help of the stunts and twists. Force O-line communication errors Set up mismatches and late-looping rushers Disrupt rhythm and pocket integrity Bring true strategy to the trenches You will also access the Block Steering foundational trench feature, which allows both the AI and the players to influence the direction of a block. The Block Steering system has over 700 new animations to make the gameplay feel authentic. It comes with smarter blocking mechanics, an improved targeting system, and a better understanding of gaps on the field. Plus, plenty of defensive playbooks allow you to employ new formations and tactics to stop the opposition's offense. College Football 26 Real Time Coaching 2.0 explained Real-time coaching has been upgraded this year, changing how the AI-controlled teams will operate. In simpler words, the AI will be far more dynamic regarding decision-making and reacting to situations. Delayed Shifts have been introduced this year. It will be harder for you to observe what the opposition is doing in defense. Rotations of the safeties, for example, will happen later than they previously did. Defenses will act smarter based on the chosen formation and run types. A spatial backend intelligence system called 9-Box has been introduced, so the defensive AI will better understand the attack. In short, expect the AI to be much shrewder when countering your offense. The post College Football 26 Defensive Overhaul, Real Time Coaching 2.0, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

College Football 26's first gameplay deep-dive focused on the new changes to this year's game, and the defense has been handed a complete overhaul.
According to the developers, there was a general feeling that defense needed more depth and presence. This year's gameplay will offer far better defensive control and responsiveness than College Football 25. At the core of it will be the new Physics-based tackling system.
Table of contents
College Football 26 Defensive Overhaul explained
Last year, EA Sports introduced a new tackle system in Madden NFL 25. This year, the technology makes its way over to College Football 26, and at its core will be the Physics-Based Tackling (PBT).
Your defenders' ratings will matter more as the better ones will win more tackles and do so cleanly. Similarly, weaker defenders are likelier to lose the tackles, so focusing on your college recruitment will be necessary. Additionally, there will be new tackle types in this year's game.
- Wrap Catch Tackles
- In-Range Lunge Content
- Unprepped Hit Sticks
You can also expect better mechanics in general defense.
- Better timing and aiming compared to previous hit stick tackles.
- Enjoy better timings and aiming during Stiff Arm moves and general offense.
- General improvement of the core tackling system.
- General enhancements will be made for quarterbacks, who will also have a better progression system.
- Better contact accuracy on PBT tackles.
- Reduction in abrupt change in momentum after contact.
- More realistic Post-tackle movements will make the presentation look much more visually appealing.
College Football 26 Stunts explained
Stunts and Twists will no longer be limited to four-man rushes. Instead, you can have more freedom to disrupt assignments and create chaos on the field. Open the new sub-menu to access all available stunts and twists for a specific call. 12 unique stunt types, based on real-life tactics, will be provided for you to choose from.
Here's what you can do with the help of the stunts and twists.
- Force O-line communication errors
- Set up mismatches and late-looping rushers
- Disrupt rhythm and pocket integrity
- Bring true strategy to the trenches
You will also access the Block Steering foundational trench feature, which allows both the AI and the players to influence the direction of a block. The Block Steering system has over 700 new animations to make the gameplay feel authentic. It comes with smarter blocking mechanics, an improved targeting system, and a better understanding of gaps on the field.
Plus, plenty of defensive playbooks allow you to employ new formations and tactics to stop the opposition's offense.
College Football 26 Real Time Coaching 2.0 explained
Real-time coaching has been upgraded this year, changing how the AI-controlled teams will operate. In simpler words, the AI will be far more dynamic regarding decision-making and reacting to situations.
- Delayed Shifts have been introduced this year. It will be harder for you to observe what the opposition is doing in defense. Rotations of the safeties, for example, will happen later than they previously did.
- Defenses will act smarter based on the chosen formation and run types.
- A spatial backend intelligence system called 9-Box has been introduced, so the defensive AI will better understand the attack.
In short, expect the AI to be much shrewder when countering your offense.
The post College Football 26 Defensive Overhaul, Real Time Coaching 2.0, and more appeared first on Destructoid.