Taking the Field in NCAA Football 08

Published August 1, 2007

NCAA® Football 08 has released to the masses of college football fans. How can you become a big man on campus? Just use these tips to help guide you to victory on the field.

Star Dominance
Unlike the NFL where you can safely assume a high level of athleticism and skill for even bench warmers, college football is a game dominated by star talent. These Impact Players, as NCAA Football 08 calls them, should be the focal point of your strategy throughout every game.

If your team has an Impact Player at wide receiver, make that player the first read on every pass play. If your middle linebacker is lighting up the stat sheet, let him blitz and play the ball. Whatever the position, Impact Players are so powerful that even though the opposing team may scheme for them on every play, there's still little they can do to contain them.

Can you defend the house?

Powerhouse Teams
If nursing an ailing franchise is to your liking, such as my beloved but woeful Washington Huskies, you can start them on the road to recovery. But if you want to win from the outset, choose a powerhouse franchise like USC or Notre Dame. These top-tier schools have a better talent base to start, and they have a much higher chance of recruiting top level players as the years pass by.

What's My Motivation?
New to NCAA Football 08 is the Motivation system. Take control of a player, produce positive results, and it will boost their motivation. Perform well enough, and that player's sphere of influence rallies other players.

For the best results, try honing in on just one player on offense and defense. If you've got a stud defensive end, take control of him before every snap to try and break through the line for sacks and tackles for loss. If you control too many different players, it will take too long to max out a player's Motivation.

Keep Your Options Open
Many college playbooks in NCAA Football 08 make great use of the classic "option" play, where the quarterback chooses to run the ball himself, or pitch it mid-run to a trailing player.

Strip it!

Know whether your own field general is an option quarterback. Option quarterbacks are prized more for their athleticism and running ability, than their passing expertise. Make sure you play to the strengths of your quarterback's abilities, as well as to your team's playbook.

Patience, then a Burst
Gamers who have difficulty running the ball effectively generally don't wait for their blocking to develop. Pulling the right trigger causes the player to sprint, but don't do this when the ball is handed off. Instead, follow your blockers until a hole develops. Then, sprint through and run to daylight.

Fake Outs
Since college players are less experienced than the pros, they are more susceptible to fakes. Make defensive backs bite on a pump fake, or get linebackers to commit to the run on a play action pass. It's  a wise idea to try more "hitch" patterns in the passing game (hit the pump fake when the receiver breaks to the left or right, then throw long when they head up field), and strategically use the run to set up the play action pass.

Strip It
Go for the ball! Hold A when you make a tackle, and you will attempt to strip the ball from the ball carrier. Do this when you're on the quarterback, but note that if it's running back, he has a chance to break the tackle. When extra defenders arrive to help you out, then go back to trying to get that ball out of there.

Defensive Hot Routes
New this year to NCAA Football 08 are Defensive Hot Routes. Select a desired defender and hold A to see the defender's options. And especially if you play online, consider the QB Spy and QB Contain routes. Essentially, you can put a damper on opponents who scramble on every play with their quarterback by assigning the middle linebacker to QB Spy, and at least one defensive end to QB Contain. QB Spy locks the linebacker to follow the movements of the opposing quarterback, and QB Contain sends the defensive end to mirror the quarterback's movement "fencing" him to stay in the pocket.

Following these tips may not immediately propel you to the championship game without some recruiting, coaching, and playing chops, but they should at least start you on the way to becoming the next Bear Bryant or Joe Paterno.

Article by Ryan Treit