EA Sports invited us to a special preview event showcasing what’s to come in both College Football and Madden 27. After reviewing last year’s game, I was more than ready to be Temple of Geek’s five-star recruit for the event. It’s worth noting that this preview covers material from the College Football 27 section of the presentation. If you’re interested in knowing what’s coming to Madden NFL 27, you can learn more in my preview here.
Now in its third season, fans are more or less ingrained with the cadence of updates to EA Sports College Football. The community has been fortunate to see steady improvement from year one to year two, but, as fans do with their favorite athletes, year three is where we see exponential growth. I can’t say College Football 27’s growth will be exponential, but Dynasty is looking special.
Dynasty Reimagined
College Football’s Dynasty Mode is seeing some much-needed retooling. New to the game are Athletic Director (AD) Expectations, which serve as a school’s blueprint for how to run your program. Now, every season, schools will give you three goals to complete that are driven by the school’s priorities. If you’re taking over at a small school like my alma mater, San Jose State University, you won’t be expected to win the national championship. In that scenario, one goal might just be getting the Spartans to win a Bowl game.
Winning solves everything, but EA says it won’t be the only thing. One example given was with Ohio State. They’re a powerhouse regularly putting record players into the pros while always being in contention for a national title. But just because they haven’t beaten their rival, Michigan? Change might have to be in order. Maybe it’s toxic given the actual climate, but this added pressure absolutely feels authentic to sports storytelling.
Build your dream program with Dynasty Points
Joining the AD Expectations in adding depth to Dynasty are Dynasty Points that you’ll be spending across your coaching staff, your school’s facilities, and NIL. Dynasty Points will be earned based on the grades you have for conference prestige, school brand exposure, atmosphere, and program tradition. By doing well in each of these aspects, bonus Dynasty Points can be earned, and it’s up to you to figure out how you want to use them. Are you the kind of person who wants to make an immediate impact with your football program? Would you rather grow the program over a few years? The game is set to make you think of different ways to manage your Dynasty blueprint.
College sports fans know that while things like grades and recruitment are important, they’re more vital during certain times of the year. It’s not just off-season and the season anymore. In this year’s Dynasty Mode, some tasks will be exclusive to the pre-season, in-season, bowl season, and off-season. This year’s Dynasty is all about giving you more control while staying authentic. So far it’s really looking the part, and we haven’t even scratched the surface of what’s being offered. Rest assured, it’s exciting stuff.
It’s In The Game
College football is the unquestioned leader when it comes to American sports pageantry, and EA Sports has always capitalized. Hearing the live percussion and wind instruments whenever I boot up a College Football game energizes me. A big part of why it’s so memorable is the inclusion of marching band versions of both modern music. This year, on top of what we usually get, we’re even getting from other EA titles like Battlefield. There’s even music from Command & Conquer and Mass Effect, so how’s that for a pull?
EA Sports mentioned that the game also includes 90 new revamped tracks, with ND State and Sac State newly added. ESPN/ABC’s Holly Rowe has also been added to the commentary and expressed excitement about her role, enhancing the presentation’s storytelling. We’ve even been told the Heisman Trophy ceremony in the game will be something to watch. These are all things that the hardcore player won’t really care for once they’ve played the game for some months. Still, if you have an appreciation for college football and authenticity, it’s hard to not be excited.
Your Road To Glory Begins Next Month
Because this was a remote preview, I unfortunately can’t speak to how different the game feels on the field. Still, as someone who logged over 200 hours in football games last year, rest assured, I’m excited to get my hands on College Football 27 and share my thoughts. The game is slated for release on July 9. For those looking to get on the field early, EA Play members get a 10-hour early access trial starting July 2. EA Play Pro members can play starting July 6, and members also score recurring monthly College Ultimate Team packs in addition to 10% off EA digital content.
