So what’s my take? This game is better than expected but the intensity and split second timing required to win games makes for a love / hate relationship. My biggest critique of College Football 25 is basic tackling. More specifically, trying to bring down a speedy Wide Receiver is not an easy task. Almost seems like the CPU has a bit of an advantage at times (when they’re playing defense) or maybe it’s because my reaction time just isn’t what it used to be when I was lugging books around campus in the early 2000’s.

When the ball is in the air, it’s absolutely critical to not switch your Defensive Backs at the last minute. Otherwise you’ll get absolutely torched by a WR for stopping your defensive momentum. A friendly tip would be to time your player switch at the last moment - seemingly a split second from the potential WR catch - and try to swat or intercept the ball. Now, the CPU can seemingly do this with zero problem, because in the first 10-15 hours of gameplay I was throwing picks like it was going out of style, but getting your downfield defense on point is absolutely the name of the game.

Another way to quickly become a shutdown corner is to utilize the player lock feature. This is a relatively new, yet challenging, aspect of College Football 25’s defensive play. Double clicking the left thumb stick will give you the 1 on 1 experience you seek - especially if you are trying to shut down a particular WR - but not so fast, my friend! This takes time to practice but is especially useful when playing an online matchup and you have a feeling your opponent will be throwing to a particular spot or player. Take control of the DB, drop back in zone and break up (or intercept) a pass with player lock. It’s much easier than relying on quick button pressing at the last minute to force a turnover - much less break up a pass.

Captain obvious here - your reaction time on either side of the ball - will make or break your on-field performance. Sticking with tackling for a moment, I’m admittedly a “hit stick” guy. Meaning, for decades of NCAA and Madden play, I’ve loved pretending that I’d appear on ESPN’s old Monday Night Football Countdown ‘Jacked Up’ segment by lighting up a quarterback, running back or receiver with a booming hit. Well, in 2024, that’s risky business in CFB25. Sure, you can tackle this way but I wouldn’t recommend it. Traditional, button-based, tackling is the way to go. But here’s the thing - you absolutely need to have your player facing the ball carrier and also be able to anticipate their direction. There’s nothing worse when you miss a tackle and get gashed for a huge “chunk play.” That’s the kind of stuff that makes you want to throw the controller. But not in 2024 when a controller costs as much as a video game! So, what’s the call? Utilize player lock with your left analog and try to anticipate the direction of the ball carrier. Easier said than done but hold tight and I’d recommend leveling up your competitive advantage with some KontrolFreek Clutch Thumbsticks for Xbox or Playstation. These are a must because when the stadium noise and adrenaline are pumping, one false move can have you catching an earful from an online opponent.

Another way to score W’s in College Football 25 is dominating the line of scrimmage. A good swim move from your D-Lineman can have the opposing team’s QB make some bad decisions. I recommend using the Practice Mode to level up your DL’s with some quick analog movements. Of course, the No-Slip Thumb Grips come into play and utilize the appropriate Rip. Bull Rush or Club/Swim movements at the right moment is critical. Also, you can’t have those sweaty palms lose grip on your controller, so I’d also recommend KontrolFreek performance grips to give you better grip, support and comfort when playing.

So let’s move to the other side of the ball- offense. One thing I’ve noticed while playing College Football 25 so far.. first, you have some new “buddies” on campus including the jurdle - who is your new best friend - along with those familiar friends in the spin, juke and truck. Mastering the analog stick flick and button combos at the right time is key. Juking has always been a part of the CFB games but with the advanced, modern day controls, sprinting and protecting the ball (the other button combos) need to be utilized in order to move the chains. I’d say that much like its predecessors, College Football is very much a pass-dominated game, but, in order to be successful, you need a balanced offensive attack. Running the ball can be tricky at times (don’t get me started on the RPO plays - can’t get them to work!) but the seemingly fundamental aspects of ball carrying (ie. hitting the right holes) is so critical and even the slightest analog movements can result in a huge play or embarrassingly running into your O-Lineman. I recommend thinking about utilizing Running Backs with the intention of running straight lines only after the QB hikes the ball. Picture a track for your RB to run down to get past the first level of the defense - AND THEN - utilize the offensive ball-carrying controls of juking, spinning etc. Simply stated, if you move too early with your Running Back, it almost always seems like the defender will gobble you up in the backfield. Be sure to remember the designed route for the ball carrier, stick to it and then hit the defense with some fancy analog stick work.

Lastly, my favorite… passing. Talk about high risk and high reward! This is when your thumb sticks come into play. CPU defense in College Football 25’s feels like an absolute swarm most of the time. One of the biggest things I’ve had trouble with is connecting on downfield throws. Seems like there’s always a Safety hiding in the weeds 20-30 yards from the line of scrimmage. When it comes to throwing a pass, it’s the age-old challenge of lob vs laser to hit an open receiver but in College Football 25, you significantly better your chances of a completion when you throw to a spot - something that wasn’t offered in the previous games. To throw to a spot in College Football 25, use the “Placement & Accuracy” passing type, which allows for more precise passes and control over power through visual targets. I also recommend turning off “Passing Showdoc” to give you more passing control and setting “Pass Lead Increase” to “Small” to make sure you’re connecting with your wideouts.

Now, for the game changing aspect of passing, leading a receiver. This involves anticipating a WR’s route and throwing the ball to where they will be, rather than where they currently are. Here's how to do it effectively:

1. Read the defense and identify the receiver's route
2. Lead the receiver: As the receiver runs their route, lead them by throwing the ball to the spot where they will be, taking into account their speed and the defender's position. Use the right analog stick to lead a receiver, move the right analog stick in the direction you want the ball to go, relative to the receiver's position.
3. Identify a defender's position. If a DB is closing in, lead the receiver away from the defender.
4. Release the ball before the receiver reaches the spot, allowing them to run under the pass.

That’s enough for now. Time to lace up those cleats and lead your team to victory!

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