Lace up your cleats and strap on your shoulder pads, EA Sports College Football 27 is here! This year, CFB 27 has amazing new features that players have been asking for and some that no one wanted. CFB 27 has revamped gameplay, updated presentation, new “Road to Glory” positions and more. We also see the return of a fan favorite and community requested “Mascot Mashup”. My review will detail the things and elements I enjoyed and some elements that I think take away from the experience.
Presentation
First, let’s discuss the updates to presentation in this year’s version of CFB 27. One of the first things you notice is the new main menu and its nice new facelift. It features a miniature stadium of your favorite team, with helmets and other memorabilia. I like how easy it is to read the menu and it’s not trying to take you directly to ultimate team as you load into the game.
You will also notice some new in-game presentation updates as well. Two new broadcasters this year, with Joel Klatt in the booth for color commentary and Holly Rowe doing her job on the sidelines. Users can also choose between the “Broadcast Team (Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer and David Pollack)” and the “Big Game Team (Chris Fowler and Joel Klatt)”. It always immerses you more when the broadcasters discuss real world events or issues surrounding your team. For instance, when playing with Florida, they mention the struggles of finding a good coach.
CFB 27 also features dynamic weather, which can quite literally change the game. Weather can go from a nice sunny Saturday to a stormy mess over the course of a game, just like in real life. Depending on the type of weather, the field will degrade which will cause problems with players’ footing. You will also see the accumulation of mud, rain and other things on the players as the game goes on.
Dynasty mode also received some presentation updates as well. I personally love this because now in the background you see stats about what’s happening in the season for other players. You also get a preview of the best player on the team you’re about to play against.
Of course, the traditions, mascots and authentic team stadiums have all been improved also. CFB 27 features better play gear like hanging mouthguards, rolled jerseys, and more. It’s the true definition of “If you look good, you feel good and if you feel good, you play good”.
Speaking of stadiums, players can now choose the crowd themes. That means if you want to do a blackout or a Penn State whiteout, it’s in the game. Again, as a huge college football fan I love to see little elements like this in the game. It really makes it feel truly authentic and something I will be using.
Gameplay
As someone who has played all the new iterations of EA Sports College Football games, I can say that this year’s version might have the best gameplay so far. CFB 27 really feels good to play and it’s running on EA’s Frostbite engine. Player movement is much better than EA Sports College Football 26, it’s a football game that plays like it’s supposed to. I’m not saying it’s a perfect game but you can feel the improvement.
EA Sports College Football 27 features so many notable new gameplay additions and updates. One thing I learned early was that defense this year was much improved. Not only my defense but playing against the computer, there’s not going to be spamming the same play back to back this year. EA revamped the tackle stick, so users have more control over bringing players to the ground.
They didn’t forget about the offensive side of the ball either, now you can make it even harder for the defense to stop you because of the formation shifts. When users call their plays, they can find other formations that use the same personnel. Users will line up in that look and then shift to the original play to try to confuse the defense. I love this because it adds a more strategic element to my offensive strategy and game plan.
Normally I don’t use it but this year I jumped in to “Skills Trainer” because of all the new features. I wanted to get hands with some of the new features. One new feature is Timing-Based catching, which is completely optional; it gives users better control over bringing in passes. This works on both offense and defense for interceptions. After some trial and error, I was able to utilize this on a more consistent basis. It’s really satisfying when you get all green and pull in a big catch over some defenders.
Another big notable feature is the new Pre-Snap adjustments. They made some changes to how you shift your d-line and linebackers. Instead of using the d-pad, you move right on the right stick for d-line and left for linebackers. There are also new zone coverage options, from Ultra Aggressive to Balanced to Plaster. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages, so make sure you use the appropriate coverage. For instance, Plaster is used for defenders to attach to the closest receiver instead of being locked to a zone. This helps against QB scrambles and broken plays.
We also see the introduction of Macros, which are custom adjustments of pre-made shifts. Macros can be used by holding LB on Xbox and L1 on PS5 and can be used on both offense and defense. For example, if you know your opponent must go deep, instead of rolling coverage and adjusting linebackers, you can select “No Deep Passes” under macros. Users can also create their own custom adjustments as well.
EA Sports College Football 27 has so many updates. The developers added 22 new defensive playbooks and 16 new defensive formations. Oh and no easy scoring with the QB sneak, they have added a new timing-based mechanic that’s not always an automatic touchdown. Also, that not so speedy defensive back can be useful now with the introduction of WR/DB jostling. If your DB isn’t the fastest but excels in other areas, skilled defenders will stay connected to the WR. This can mess with the receivers’ timing and even cause the ball to go completely out of reach.
Mascot Mashup
Yes, the amazing and beloved “Mascot Mashup” is back in CFB 27. To be honest, it felt like this was added just to appease fans, it’s like there is no real heart or love put in this mode. I say that because it wasn’t fun to me. Sure, the Mascot may do a dance move before you snap the ball but that’s about it and you must play and win a game in “Play Now” to unlock certain teams. So, if you are a Florida Gator fan or Clemson fan, your team must be unlocked through “Play Now”.
I would like to see more of an arcade type rather than a simulation. Lean into the wackiness of the Mascots. Also just have all the teams unlocked from the start. Sure I might play with my favorite team but I’m not going to do that to unlock the remaining teams. “Mascot Mashup” I think could have been so much better, especially in its return to EA Sports College Football 27.
Road to Glory
CFB 27’s “Road to Glory” is another area that has improved over CFB 26’s version. For one they added new positions, Tight End, Edge Rusher and Free Safety. I was super excited to see Edge Rusher in the game this year. I figure it’s the closest thing to Defensive tackle I would ever get.
After you decide what position you want, it’s time to customize your player. CFB 27 has new gear options like hanging mouthpieces, custom back plates, single leg sleeves and more. Also, a personal favorite variation of mine, the rolled jersey is now an option in the game. I noticed some new face models in the customization suite as well.
After you have made your player look like you or whoever you want, now is when you choose a custom build or use a legend build. Each position has different legends to choose from. Edge rushers have Terrell Suggs, Chris Long, Demarcus Ware, the legendary Reggie White, Dwight Freeney and Jason Taylor. I chose to create my player from the ground up and build my player in my way. You select your physique, potential ratings and mental abilities and then it’s time to start your high school senior year.
After you have selected your top ten schools, you start your journey on gaining a scholarship. Users will receive offers from several schools, and you can add or remove schools from your board at any time. This part is very similar to CFB 26, in which you play the moments in the game to earn points to gain scholarships. I did have a few instances where the objective was met or not met because of things out of my control. Sometimes a school will offer you and if you meet their challenge they will come back and add extra perks.
Users can verbally commit to a school once you receive an offer or wait until signing day. I ran into a small issue, where I went to a school as the supposed 2 string player and ended being 4th on the depth chart when I arrived at the school. Not sure if that’s a glitch but it was a little annoying, thankful I was able to trigger a position battle after a game or two.
I usually play through several position in ‘‘Road to Glory” but one thing EA added this year were micro transactions. I also noticed they removed the XP sliders from the settings in “Road to Glory”. While this didn’t stop me from playing, it did taint my experience a bit. I’m not against micro transactions and I understand that they do have a place. I just feel that removing the XP sliders and adding micro transactions, EA wants users to pay to get their players to 99 and it’s not my thing.
Users can also earn Cap Breakers, which allow players to permanently increase an attribute cap beyond the original point. You earn Cap Breakers by breaking records, winning championships, setting milestones and big accomplishments. The thing about Cap Breakers is that you have to use your points to upgrade the stat, even after you unlock it with the Cap Breaker.
“Road to Glory” is still a fun mode, and you get to live a dream of playing college football at high level. While I love some of the new additions, others I wish they would have kept. Will I continue my RTG Edge Rusher, probably after some patches and updates.
Dynasty
This is the mode several CFB users play, me included. Dynasty is where I spend most of my time when it comes to EA Sport College Football games. Like everything this year, we see a lot of updates and new additions to Dynasty mode. One of the big features is NIL has made it to EA Sports College Football 27.
Starting a dynasty of course, you can either create your own coach or start with a current coach. This year when selecting a team, it’s a little different and that because of “AD (Athletic Director) Expectations”. The Athletic Director Expectations are unique to each school. So, you choose a school like Georgia State, your AD might be more patient than the one at Alabama. I like this because you can have a good season but not meet those expectations and still get fired.
You have 3 goals you must hit for your AD Expectations. If completed, you receive rewards and trust from your school. When those goals are not met, it could cause a drop in job security. If you’re at a program with an impatient or reactionary demeanor, you could be out of a job. Also, expectations can and will change as your program grows. That’s why it’s a good thing to gain your AD’s trust.
We also see the introduction of “Dynasty Points”. You use these to manage staff, upgrade facilities and for player NIL. Dynasty points are essentially your budget for the year and refreshes each year. The bigger the program the bigger the budget. So, a small school won’t have the budget, or dynasty points you would have at an Ohio State. Also, if you don’t want to do any of this, you can set up the computer to do it for you.
A new feature I really like is the ability to hire additional support staff. These aren’t your coaching staff; these are more the movers and shakers behind the scenes. For example, you have a contract specialist you can hire that will help reduce the cost of NIL expectations for players. There are others like fundraising coordinators, strength and conditioning lead and more. Each person adds a benefit to your program but be mindful because this takes away from your dynasty points. They come in four tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum and the higher tier effects are stronger. You can also sort by the affordable options.
Another way you will attract players is by upgrading your facilities. There are five facility tiers: Basic Facility, Competitive Facility, Premier Facility, Elite Facility and National Powerhouse. Each tier will determine your ceiling so if you’re in an elite, your facility grade is B- to B+. Your facility grade determines the amount of equipment slots you have access to. Upgrading and maintaining your facility will come at a cost, so you must balance your dynasty points. Making the upgrades will boost your chances at recruits and growing your program.
The big new thing is NIL and it is a beast. Trying to recruit and manage your budget so you don’t overpay or lose out on a pillar for your rebuild. You have two types of NIL, recruiting NIL and roster NIL. Recruiting NIL is used for your new recruits and transfers. Roster NIL is to be used to help retain players currently on your roster.
NIL adds a whole new strategy to recruiting this year. You must make smart decisions and try not to overpay for players. If you find yourself going after a recruit you really want, increasing the NIL could help but that becomes the new base for that player. You could try to lower it but that may cause him to lose interest in your program. It really is going to take some thinking to navigate everything with NIL and recruiting in CFB 27. I personally love this; it’s going to make doing a rebuild challenging and fun.
Another notable update is we also see micro transactions introduced in dynasty as well. This time it’s used to upgrade your coach. In previous versions, we had the coach XP speed setting, and you could change that from slowest to fastest. CFB 27 removed that and we now have slowest to normal. Again, this is something I’m not happy with, especially removing features and adding micro transactions.
A new feature in CFB 27 that we have seen in Madden, is weekly practice plans. You can determine whether you want to do full practice, limited, no practice or week off with your players. This is to help manage a player’s wear and tear through the season. You can now get verbal commits and flip commits during the recruitment process. As long as a recruit hasn’t hard committed, he can be flipped.
My Verdict
EA Sports College Football 27 has the best gameplay hands down. I was so excited during the reveal and the announcement of all the new features. Finally getting hands on and experiencing the new features really made my day. While some things still need work, like we need something better than this current version of ‘‘Mascot Mashup”. I still feel like love was lacking from this year’s iteration and there are so many other ways to make it better.
At the moment of writing this review, news just broke that EA Sports will be reversing and removing all micro transactions from “Road to Glory” and “Dynasty”. I’m truly happy to see the community banding together has actually paid off and thank you to EA for listening to the community. EA sneaking in micro transactions without informing anyone and removing features was not consumer friendly at all. Once again thank you to EA for listening to the community.
With that being removed, this is the version of EA Sports College Football 27 we were wanting. The gameplay is fun and challenging, especially with the updates to how defense is played. The addition of NIL, AD expectations, the new elements in recruiting and managing your staff; EA has given users one of the best versions of college football so far. Is this game perfect, absolutely not but is it better than last year’s version, absolutely.
EA Sports College Football 27 was reviewed on PS5. Gamer Social Club would like to thank the devs and publisher for the code.
