Defense Tips - Not Over Pursuing

How to Stop Over-pursuing the Run in College Football 26

If you want to shut down the ground game in College Football 26, you need to stay disciplined. Overpursuing the run, especially on outside plays like stretch or outside zone, can open up huge cutback lanes for the offense.

What is overpursuing?

Overpursuing happens when you run too far past the ball carrier on a given play.

When this happens:

  • You leave the gap you were supposed to cover.
  • The running back can easily cut back inside into open space.

How to stay disciplined as a user

Here’s a simple trick:

  • When chasing runs to the sideline, stay on the backside shoulder of the running back.
  • This keeps you in position to contain the outside, while still being ready to close off any inside cutbacks.

When to apply this

Use this technique any time your opponent runs outside zone, toss, or stretch plays — especially if they are good at cutting back inside. Staying disciplined will keep them bottled up and force them into negative or short gains.

Tip: Don’t do too much

Let your teammates help. One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying too hard to do everything on their own.

 In-game College Football 26 screenshot showing a defender for TCU tracking a runner and preparing to make a tackle.
In-game College Football 26 screenshot showing a defender for TCU tracking a runner and preparing to make a tackle. is now the current item in the media gallery
 In-game College Football 26 screenshot showing a defender for TCU tracking a runner and preparing to make a tackle.