MMOexp CFB 26: Best Balanced Playbook

The playbook revolves around Pistol and Shotgun formations, both of which provide flexibility for quick decisions at the line of scrimmage. You,ll often find yourself deciding whether to CUT 26 Coins hand the ball off, keep it with the quarterback, or pull back and throw a short pass-all in a single play.

These layered choices make Rice,s playbook incredibly dangerous when used correctly. By mixing in RPOs at the right time, you can keep defenses completely off balance, leading to explosive gains and frequent red-zone trips. If unpredictability is your style, Rice should be your go-to.

Best Balanced Playbook – Oregon Ducks

Some players don,t want to commit exclusively to passing or running-they want a bit of everything. For a well-rounded attack, Oregon offers the best balanced playbook in the game.

The Ducks, playbook mirrors their real-life offensive philosophy, which has thrived on versatility and tempo. You,ll have access to a wide range of formations, mixing in screens, vertical passes, curls, quick slants, outside runs, and options. This variety forces defenses to prepare for everything, making it extremely difficult for them to predict your next move.

If you like switching things up every drive-sometimes attacking through the air, other times leaning on the ground game-Oregon,s playbook keeps you flexible and dangerous. It,s the perfect option for players who want the tools to adapt to any opponent.

Best Starter Playbook – Oregon State Beavers

If you,re new to College Football 26 and unsure of what style fits you best, Oregon State,s playbook is the ideal starting point. Considered by many players as the "best overall" offensive system in the game, it provides a little bit of everything without overwhelming you.

Oregon State features plenty of passing concepts, solid rushing plays, and even some RPOs to give you a taste of option football. Unlike Rice, which leans heavily on Shotgun and Pistol formations, Oregon State offers more variety, making it easier to experiment and find your preferred playstyle.

For players looking to learn the ropes, or veterans who just want a reliable all-around system, the Beavers, playbook is as safe as it is effective.

Honorable Mentions

While the playbooks above stand out as the best in their categories, a few others deserve recognition:

UCLA – Great for a balanced approach with creative play-calling.

Iowa – Strong emphasis on power rushing, perfect for smashmouth football.

Oklahoma – High-powered passing game that challenges defenses deep and wide.

UAB – Another solid option for RPO-heavy strategies.

Final Thoughts

Picking the right offensive playbook in College Football 26 is about more than just preference-it,s about matching your playstyle with the right tools. If you love passing, Houston delivers. If you,re a ground-and-pound player, Georgia Tech is waiting. For creativity, Rice is unmatched. If balance is your thing, Oregon is the answer. And for players just getting started, Oregon State provides the perfect learning curve.

No matter which playbook you choose, mastering it is what will ultimately lead you to success. Having a lot of CFB 26 Coins can also help you a lot. Spend time in practice mode, get comfortable with your reads, and soon enough, you,ll be scoring at will-no matter who lines up across from you.

When you first dive into College Football 26, the sheer number of plays in each playbook can feel overwhelming. Dozens of formations, hundreds of plays, and countless variations mean there,s always something new to try-but when you just want to move the ball or get a quick stop on defense, flipping through endless menus wastes valuable time. Having enough CUT 26 Coins helps you save time. That,s where the Favorites system comes in.

Favoriting plays gives you a custom-tailored mini-playbook built around the strategies you trust most. Whether you,re an offensive mastermind who loves spreading the field or a defensive coordinator at heart who thrives on blitz packages, this feature lets you quickly access your best plays without scrolling endlessly.

If you,re ready to take control of your playcalling, here,s everything you need to know about favoriting plays in College Football 26, plus tips on how to use this tool to elevate your game.

How to Favorite Plays in College Football 26

The process is simple, but easy to miss if you,re new to the series.

Enter the play-call screen during a game

This is the menu you see in the huddle after a down, where you normally browse through formation categories and individual plays.

Double-tap the play you want to favorite

On most systems, this means double-pressing the button assigned to select a play. Once you do this, a small star icon will appear next to it, marking it as one of your favorites.

Access your Favorites tab

On Xbox, press RB/LB to cycle through the play-call tabs. Favorites is located just to the right of "Play Type." Here, you,ll see every play you,ve marked as a favorite.

That,s it-you,ve now built a shortcut menu of your go-to calls.

How the Favorites System Works

The beauty of this feature is that it transcends individual playbooks. Any play you favor will appear in the tab as long as the current playbook contains that same play. For example, if you favor a "Cover 3 Sky" in one defensive book, it will also appear in others that carry the same play.

This makes the Favorites system especially powerful on defense. Since many defensive playbooks share common coverages and blitzes, you can build a universal quick-call set of plays that you,ll recognize no matter which team you,re using.

On offense, the system is just as useful but slightly more playbook-dependent. Certain schools may not run identical formations or concepts, so not every favorite will carry over. Still, this allows you to build consistency into your offensive identity.

Why Favoriting Plays Matters

At first glance, it might feel like a small quality-of-life tool. But once you start using it, you,ll realize how much it speeds up decision-making and sharpens your gameplay.

Consistency under pressure – When the play clock is winding down, the last thing you want to do is scroll through 15 formations. Favorites let you call your bread-and-butter plays instantly.

Building a play identity – Everyone has a handful of plays that "just work." Maybe it,s a mesh concept that always finds your slot receiver open, or a blitz that rattles quarterbacks on third down. Saving them as favorites ensures they,re always one button away.

Faster adjustments – If an opponent is spamming the same offensive look, having your trusted counter plays bookmarked makes it much easier to respond.

Think of it as carrying around a mini-playbook within the larger one, tailored entirely to your style.

Offensive Strategies for Favorites

On offense, favoring plays can help you build a game plan within the game plan. Instead of constantly experimenting, you,ll have a core set of plays to lean on. Here are a few categories worth favoriting:

Money plays – These are the plays you,ve had consistent success with, whether it,s a deep post against man coverage or a quick RPO against aggressive defenses.

Check-down options – Always keep at least one safe, short-yardage play in your favorites. A reliable slant or curl route is perfect when you just need to keep the chains moving.

Situational runs – Whether it,s an inside zone on 3rd-and-2 or a jet sweep to catch the defense off guard, having a few rushing plays bookmarked keeps your offense versatile.

By combining a few reliable pass and run plays, your Favorites tab essentially becomes a compact offensive system designed for any situation.

Defensive Strategies for Favorites

Defense is where this system really shines. With so much overlap between playbooks, you can build a versatile defensive toolbox that works regardless of team. Plays worth favoriting include:

Base coverages – Keep staples like Cover 2, Cover 3, or Quarters coverage at the ready to fall back on.

Blitz packages – Having your favorite blitzes instantly accessible is critical for surprise pressure.

Third-down stoppers – Bookmark a couple of plays that excel at preventing conversions, whether that,s a man coverage with safety help or a disguised zone.

With these in your Favorites, you,ll never feel lost-even if you,re playing with an unfamiliar team.

Tips for Maximizing Your Favorites Tab

Don,t overload it. The temptation is to favor everything, but that defeats the purpose. Stick to 6–12 plays you know like the back of your hand.

Update over time. As you discover new plays that click with your style, swap them in. Your Favorites should evolve just like your playcalling.

Practice with your set. Head into Practice Mode and run your favorites repeatedly. The better you know them, the faster you,ll execute under pressure.

Think situationally. Include plays for buy CUT 26 Coins short yardage, red zone, third-and-long, and two-minute drill scenarios.