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EA Sports College Football 25 was released on July 19 as the series returned after an 11-year hiatus. The game features many gameplay mechanics and features that are brand new to the series.
These mechanics and controls can be a bit overwhelming for players who are brand new to the game. Here, let's break down five essential controls in College Football 25 for beginners to help you get familiar with the major changes to how the game plays.
Top 5 essential controls for beginners in College Football 25
#1. Revamped passing system
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Learning the new revamped passing system in the game will help you work the ball down the field quickly and put points on the board. The revamped passing system includes a meter to show the velocity of the throw and help you time your pass just right.
On a pass play, find the receiver you want to target and press the button corresponding to that receiver. A quick tap of the button will force the quarterback to throw a lob pass. A lob pass will put more loft on the ball and it will sail over the top of the defenders.
If you hold the receiver button for a short time and release it before the meter fills up, this will force the quarterback to throw a touch pass. A touch pass has more power than a lob pass but still puts more loft on the ball than a bullet pass.
Finally, holding the button down until the meter fills up with force a bullet pass. This is the quickest way to get the ball from your quarterback to the receiver.
If you hold the button down too long, the meter will turn yellow or red. This means that the pass will have less accuracy, making it more difficult for the receiver to make a clean catch.
#2. New Kick Meter
A new kick meter introduced in College Football 25 presents more of a challenge for players to connect on longer field goal attempts. When kicking, a ball will begin moving from left to right. The more difficult the field goal or the lower the rating of the kicker, the faster the ball will move.
To kick an accurate field goal, simply aim the arrow in the direction you want the kick to go and line the moving ball up to the center of the meter. Once it is in the center of the meter, press and hold X on PlayStation or A on Xbox to begin filling up the power meter.
The final step is to fill the power meter to the top without holding it too long and going into the red area. If you hold the button down too long, the meter will turn red, putting you at risk of inaccurately kicking the ball.
#3. Sprinting
The sprint button can be very useful when controlling the ball carrier on a given play in College Football 25. The key is to sprint at the correct times to maximize its effectiveness.
When controlling a ball carrier, hold down R2 on PlayStation or RT on Xbox to sprint. Sprinting works best when your ball carrier is in the open field and running away from tackles.
Try not to overuse the sprint button. For example, when controlling a running back, allow your offensive lineman time to open up a hole for you at the line of scrimmage before using the sprint button.
Timing is extremely important, and allowing running lanes to open up and sprinting into the open field will allow you to make the most out of each play.
#4. Throw the ball away
At first, this may seem like a mechanic you won't use very often in College Football 25. But once you advance to greater difficulties, you will have less time in the pocket with your quarterback and will need to throw the ball away to avoid a sack or a poor throw.
To throw the ball away, click the right stick while your quarterback has the ball and is behind the line of scrimmage. Be sure that your quarterback is outside the tackle box to avoid getting an intentional grounding penalty.
This can be useful if there are no receivers open and you want to avoid a sack. This will ensure you live to see another down instead of putting your quarterback at risk for a strip sack or an errant throw.
#5. Interceptions
Learning how to play pass coverage in College Football 25 will boost your chances of grabbing interceptions compared to letting the computer play in coverage. While the ball is in the air on defense, you can press the circle on PlayStation or B on Xbox to switch to the player closest to the intended receiver.
Once in position, you can press Triangle on PlayStation or Y on Xbox to jump and make a play on the pass. If you are in position and time it correctly, you have a good chance of grabbing an interception and getting the ball back for your offense.
Timing is also key in these plays. If you press the button too early, your player will jump and land before the ball is close enough. Press the button too late, and the receiver will already have the ball before you leave the ground.
Once you get that down, you can also practice using the switch stick to transition to another defender on the field to make a play. To use the switch stick, simply flick the right stick in the direction of the defender you would like to take control of.
Have you been enjoying EA Sports College Football 25 so far? Let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments.
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