Like many other sports fans, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of EA Sport College Football 25 for what feels like decades. Now it’s finally here in early access, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve enjoyed my time with the game, in both Ultimate Team and Dynasty modes, but there’s one particular bone I have to pick with the options system that’s holding me back from fully falling in love with the new entry.
Option offenses are crucial to any good football video game, but especially at the college level, where many teams utilize option-based offenses. For years, EA’s preferred controller input for a read option — where the quarterback makes a read on the defense to determine whether to keep the ball or hand it off — has been the same: tap X (or A on Xbox) to hand it off, or do nothing to keep it.
For some reason, EA Sport College Football 25 has turned this longstanding tradition on its head. Instead, you tap X/A to have the quarterback pull the ball back and hold it, or press nothing to pass it. I’m getting used to it, but it requires overcoming years of muscle memory from both this franchise and the Madden games. I’ve made dozens of mistakes in the option play — holding the ball when I meant to pass it, or the other way around — and I’d conservatively estimate it’s cost me 45 yards, two touchdowns, and probably two gray hairs in an otherwise fantastic gameplay experience.
To me, it just makes more sense to push a button to give the ball than to push a button to keep it. I can understand that, in theory, the action of pulling the ball back is more important to the quarterback than giving it away. But in these games, you’re not just playing against the quarterback; you’re controlling the offense. And giving the ball away feels more like an action than not giving it away, making that the most opportune place to push a button. And at the end of the day, years of muscle memory will win out, especially with a blitzing linebacker in your face.
College Football 25 already has enough control optimization options. You can change the new passing or kicking systems back to the old controls. Why not add a switch to change the option controls? The game has a lot of quality-of-life upgrades, like instantly expiring the clock on quarterback kneels when applicable. Let’s add one more and bring back the old option controls.