Second, geography matters. Different regions of the country produce different types of players, and certain areas have higher concentrations of CUT 26 Coins elite recruits. This design mirrors real-life high school football pipelines, adding authenticity and strategic depth.
Third, the strength of your program determines the scope of your recruiting reach. National powerhouses can cast a wide net and pursue players across the country, while smaller schools must focus on specific pipelines and realistic targets.
Building Your Recruiting Board
Before each season begins, you'll create your recruiting board. This board can hold up to 35 prospects, and you're allowed to offer the same number of scholarships over the course of the year. With thousands of recruits to choose from, building this list carefully is crucial.
Start by identifying your biggest needs, which are displayed at the top of the Prospect List screen. From there, prioritize five-star recruits with a pipeline rating of 5, as these prospects are both highly talented and have strong ties to your school's recruiting region. Some will commit quickly once offered a scholarship. After that, look to four-star recruits with a 5 pipeline rating or five-star recruits with a 4 pipeline rating. The general rule is to balance star ranking with pipeline strength, gradually moving down the list as necessary.
As you gain experience, you'll refine your searches by considering height, weight, and other traits that fit your system. Early on, however, focusing on stars and pipeline ratings gives you the strongest foundation.
Over time, you'll also learn each prospect's three core motivations. Some of these will be deal breakers. If a player values something your program is weak in, such as Championship Contender status, and you only carry a C grade in that area, it may be best to move on before wasting hours recruiting them.
Spending Recruiting Hours
Once the season begins, you'll need to invest recruiting hours each week to court prospects. Players gradually narrow their choices from an open list to a Top 8, then Top 5, Top 3, and eventually, a final commitment. Your job is to stay above the cutoff each week so you remain in contention.
The number of hours you receive depends on your team's prestige. A five-star powerhouse program begins with 1,000 hours per week, while a low-tier one-star school gets only 350. You can spend up to 50 hours on a single player, unless you have the special "Always Be Crootin'" ability, which allows up to 70 hours for select positions.
Here's what you can do with those hours:
Scout: 10 hours (three to five sessions usually reveal all ratings)
Offer Scholarship: 5 hours
Search Social Media: 5 hours
Direct Message the Player: 10 hours
Contact Friends and Family: 25 hours
Send The House (all-out pitch): 50 hours
Soft Sell (Top 5 only): 20 hours
Hard Sell (Top 5 only): 40 hours
Sway (Top 5 only): 30 hours
Schedule Visit: 40 hours
Effective hour management is crucial. Save big investments like Hard Sell or scheduling visits for prospects who already have your school in their top five, and spread out scouting time early in the season to uncover hidden gems.
School Grades and Why They Matter
Every school is graded across 14 categories, which serve as the foundation of your recruiting pitch. These grades either align with or conflict with a recruit's motivations. Green indicates a match, while red indicates a weakness. Strong grades in the right areas dramatically increase your chances of landing top talent.
The 14 categories are:
Academic Prestige (unchangeable)
Athletic Facilities
Brand Exposure
Campus Lifestyle (unchangeable)
Championship Contender
Coach Prestige
Coach Stability
Conference Prestige
Playing Style
Playing Time
Pro Potential
Program Tradition
Proximity to Home
Stadium Atmosphere
Most of these grades can improve-or decline-based on your performance, giving real weight to wins, losses, and long-term success. For example, recruiting elite talent becomes easier if your school has a strong NFL pipeline (Pro Potential) or consistent championship contention.
Scheduling Visits and Closing the Deal
One of the most powerful tools in your recruiting arsenal is the campus visit. Scheduling a visit costs 40 hours, but it can deliver huge momentum toward securing a commitment. The key is timing: schedule visits when your program's strengths align with the recruit's top motivations, and ideally during rivalry games or major matchups that are likely to end in a win. A strong visit can often seal the deal, pushing you past rival schools.
Final Thoughts
Recruiting in College Football 26 is more than just a background system-it's the lifeblood of Dynasty Mode. Success comes from balancing long-term strategy with week-to-week decisions, learning when to chase five-star talent and when to pivot to realistic targets. By building your board wisely, investing recruiting hours strategically, and maximizing your school's strengths, you can consistently outpace rivals and turn your program into a perennial contender.
In the end, recruiting is about more than just assembling a roster. It's about shaping the identity of your program, building rivalries, and writing the kind of story that makes Dynasty Mode so addictive. Having plenty of NCAA 26 Coins can be a great help. Master it, and your school won't just compete-it will dominate.
EA Sports College Football 26 is nearly here, and the excitement across the gaming world is at an all-time high. Following last year's triumphant revival of the long-dormant franchise, fans have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter. The new edition promises refined gameplay, expanded features, and more ways than ever to experience the thrill of college football before the real-life season begins this fall. Having enough CUT 26 Coins will make you feel more passionate. From release details to standout features, here's everything you need to know about College Football 26.
Global Release and Early Access
The game will officially launch worldwide on July 10, but those who can't wait have the chance to jump in a little earlier. Early access begins July 7, giving players a three-day head start. Unlike many other games that roll out region by region, College Football 26 uses a synchronized global release system. This means everyone gets access at the same moment, eliminating the need for tricks involving time zones or VPNs.
Early access kicks off at 9:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM ET, and 5:00 PM BST on July 7. Players around the globe will unlock the game at those exact times in their local zones. The standard edition follows just a few days later, with the full launch happening on July 10 at the same synchronized times. To get early access, players must either purchase the Deluxe Edition of the game, priced at $99.99, or subscribe to buy NCAA Football 26 Coins EA Play.