Limit your board to 15–20 prospects. Scout broadly at CUT 26 Coins first, then narrow your focus to the players most likely to commit. Early on, you'll have more weekly recruiting hours (around 750 for a mid-tier program), but this drops over time, so efficiency is key.

Scouting and Offering Scholarships

Scouting reveals key attributes and hidden "gem" traits. Players with both physical and mental abilities - such as "Clear-Headed" or "Winning Time" - are incredibly valuable long term. Don't rush to offer scholarships until you've revealed these traits.

Be careful not to overload one position on your board. If you target too many QBs or RBs, recruits with "Playing Time" dealbreakers will back off completely. Keep your position groups balanced.

Weekly Recruiting Strategy

Each week, check your Weekly Advance Summary to see progress and player interest changes. Recruits move through stages - Open, Top 8, Top 5, Top 3 - before committing. When two schools are neck and neck, a new Recruit Battle system kicks in, resetting progress and forcing you to fight it out over several weeks.

Monitor the My School tab to identify why players may want to transfer or lose interest - it could be due to brand exposure, playing time, or NFL draft potential. Address these weaknesses by improving team performance or focusing on players who align better with your strengths.

Maximizing Visits and Hard Sells

Visits are crucial. Don't schedule them too early, or CPU coaches may gain a bonus from visiting after you. Ideally, line up multiple complementary visits in a week you expect to win a big home game - rivalry or ranked matchups boost visit impact.

Recruit proximity also affects visit costs - local recruits cost fewer points (10–15), while cross-country trips can cost up to 40. Always aim for A or A+ visit grades, especially for recruits in your pipeline region.

Once a recruit reaches their Top 5, you can Hard Sell their top interests for big gains. Make sure at least three of their preferred categories (like Championship Contender or Program Tradition) are rated A or B for your school. If not, use Sway to shift their preferences over several weeks. It's slow, but a successful sway can flip a battle in your favor.

Winning Recruiting Battles

When competing with big programs, don't panic if they surge - powerhouse schools often overcommit early. Stay patient, keep your points consistent, and leverage pipeline tier bonuses to gain ground. Winning visits and maintaining "Hard Sell" bonuses are what close deals.

After each signing, move committed players to the top of your board to stay organized and track which positions are filled. Seeing those commits pile up is one of the most rewarding parts of Dynasty Mode.

The Transfer Portal Era

Finally, don't overlook the Transfer Portal. Over 2,000 players can enter each year, and many will fill your most urgent gaps. The same recruiting logic applies: identify team needs, focus on realistic targets, and leverage your upgraded coaching abilities that make transfer players more interested in your program.

Master these systems - from ability synergy to visit timing - and you'll consistently pull in elite classes. Recruiting in College Football 26 isn't just about chasing stars; it's about building relationships, planning ahead, and maximizing every hour of your season. Having plenty of CFB 26 Coins will help you a lot. Nail that, and you'll turn any team - even a middle-tier one like Missouri - into a dynasty.

Today, we're diving deep into the run game in College Football 26 - breaking down the mechanics, timing, and techniques that separate average ball carriers from true ground-game kings. If you want to break ankles, hit the edge, and take it to the house consistently, mastering your angles, stick control, and situational moves is the key. Having plenty of CUT 26 Coins will also help you a lot.

Let's go step-by-step through how to dominate every carry, using real in-game examples and mechanics you can apply right away.

1. Understanding the New Running Mechanics

The running system in CFB 26 feels smoother and more reactive than ever before. Every move - juke, spin, stiff arm, or truck - depends on timing, spacing, and the defender's angle. Button-mashing won't cut it anymore. You have to read defenders and react like a real ball carrier.

When you're approaching contact, always assess the defender's position:

In front of you? Consider a juke or spin.

Beside you? A well-timed spin or shoulder dip can break free.

Behind you or slightly to the side? That's your cue to unleash the stiff arm.

The key is knowing what move fits the situation - and executing it with precision.

2. Mastering the Stiff Arm

The stiff arm is one of the most satisfying moves in CFB 26 when used correctly. It's not about spamming the right stick - it's about using it at the perfect angle.

When a defender is closing in from behind or slightly to your side, the stiff arm icon will appear on screen. That's your signal. If the icon lights up, hit that button and watch your runner throw the arm bar like a pro.

Angles are everything here. If the defender is directly in front of you, the stiff arm won't connect cleanly. To create the right angle, steer your runner slightly toward the sideline or toward open space. This positions the defender behind your shoulder, opening up the window for that powerful arm extension.

A good stiff arm not only breaks tackles but can also help you maintain momentum - perfect for turning 5-yard gains into explosive runs.

3. When to Juke - and When Not To

The juke move in CFB 26 isn't as forgiving as it used to be. If the defender is too close, you won't have enough separation to make it work. You need at least five yards of cushion for a juke to be effective.

When you see that gap, hit the right stick in the desired direction - but here's the trick: hold R2 (or RT on Xbox) while doing it. Holding R2 adds that burst of acceleration right after the juke, letting you pull away from tacklers and explode upfield.

If you release R2 before juking, it becomes a slower, more controlled move - great for tight spaces like the goal line or heavy traffic runs. But in open space, keep R2 held down to maintain top speed and hit that second gear.

The best runners know when to vary their jukes - slow and deliberate in tight areas, explosive and wide in open field.

4. Perfecting the Spin Move

The spin move is back and better than ever in College Football 26. It's your best option when defenders are closing in from the front or slightly off-center. The timing is crucial: spin just as contact is about to be made.

For tighter spins - like when you're weaving through traffic or trying to get behind a blocker - let go of R2, hit the spin button (O/B), and cut tight. This allows your runner to pivot smoothly and slide right into the open lane.

If you're in an open field, hold R2 for a wider spin that covers more ground. It's riskier but can throw defenders off-balance and open big play opportunities.

One of the cleanest combos you can perform is a tight spin behind your blocker - release R2, spin just inside your lineman, then accelerate out. Done right, this move sets up natural blockers downfield and often leads to buy NCAA Football 26 Coins breakaway touchdowns.