How to Recruit players in College Football 26

Let’s break down EA Sports College Football 26 revamped recruiting system. Whether you're rebuilding a small program or chasing a natty with a blue blood, this year’s recruiting process is a total game-changer. So let’s break down how it works!

If you recall, in College Football 25, every visit cost a flat 40 hours. Didn’t matter if the kid lived down the street or across the country.

Well in CFB26, now proximity matters. A local visit might cost just 10 hours, while a cross-country trip will still be 40. That’s a huge shift that rewards smart, regional recruiting. Smaller schools can build talent locally, while big-name programs still have the resources to fly players in from anywhere.

Specific abilities will also impact recruiting more deeply this year. For example, if you're running a CEO archetype coach, the “More the Merrier” ability lets you double the number of weekly visitors from 4 to 8, which is perfect for those massive home game weekends. Add in a Strategist coordinator, and you’ll even earn bonus XP when recruits visit during wins.

Scouting also got a facelift. Attributes are now consistently ordered by position, so comparing players is a breeze. Plus, the “Mind Reader” ability can now reveal a recruit’s development trait before a campus visit, letting you spot future stars way earlier in the process.

And let’s talk recruiting battles. In CFB 25, close races often felt unpredictable at times. But now, if two schools are neck and neck, a battle begins, raising the commitment threshold and giving both schools one last shot to seal the deal. 

Swaying just got smarter too. You’ll now see the success chance before you commit, with a new UI that makes it easier to spot recruits you’ve successfully influenced. Use it wisely, especially with the Persuasive Personality trait to shift battles in your favor.

We also added tons of recruiting quality-of-life improvements like:

• Team Needs is now pinned to your prospect List.
• Up & down arrows show recruit interest changes week to week.
• Red dots flag when new pitch options are available.
• You can now favorite prospects for easy tracking.
• And advanced filters that make board management smoother than ever.

So whether you’re chasing five-stars or searching for hidden gems, College Football 26 makes recruiting more strategic, more personal, and way more fun.