In today’s college football landscape, roster management and talent acquisition are the lifeblood of building a successful program. With players now having the ability to transfer whenever they want, aligning your program’s offerings with player expectations is more crucial than ever. Whether a player seeks early playing time, a chance to compete for championships, or a platform to grow their personal brand, how you cater to their needs will determine your program’s trajectory.
To accurately capture the complexity and intensity of modern-day recruiting, the design team behind College Football 25 went to the source, engaging with current and former coaches, players, and recruiting experts. Their goal? To understand the nuances of recruiting and roster management in this era of college football. They wanted to know what drives players’ decisions to transfer, how motivations have shifted, and what separates powerhouse programs from smaller schools on the recruiting trail.
Quantitative research also played a pivotal role in shaping the game’s design. The team dove deep into the data, learning everything from the distribution of 5, 4, and 3-star prospects to the distinctive qualities that define players from different regions—like the fabled California quarterbacks versus their Florida counterparts. The goal was to authentically reflect regional recruiting dynamics and how prospects’ decisions are shaped by geography, competition, and program philosophy.
Moreover, by studying the recruiting journeys of hundreds of real-life prospects, the development team explored why top recruits sign with particular schools, what commonalities exist in their top choices, and how coaching staffs—both head coaches and coordinators—impact a recruit’s decision-making process.
One of the biggest influences on the recruiting and roster management systems came from feedback gathered from the College Football community. Players enjoyed the depth of recruiting in older versions of the game but found it tedious. In contrast, more recent iterations offered faster recruiting mechanics but felt shallow and disconnected, removing the human element of forging relationships with recruits.
The team’s goal was to find a balance between these two extremes: making recruiting meaningful and interactive while respecting players’ time each week. The result is a system where you can build genuine relationships with recruits through strategic discovery without getting bogged down in overly repetitive tasks.
After conducting extensive research and listening to community feedback, College Football 25 centered its program-building mechanics on four core goals:
Humanizing Recruits with Unique Needs and Motivations Every recruit now has unique personal needs and motivations. Some players prioritize early playing time, others want to compete for national titles, and some focus on their future beyond football. It’s up to you to discover these motivations by interacting with recruits. Building a strong relationship can give you an edge over other schools, but ignoring a recruit’s core desires could push them to sign elsewhere—or even enter the transfer portal.
Differentiating Regions by Player Caliber and Type High school football talent varies widely by region, and College Football 25 reflects this dynamic with authenticity based on historical data. For instance, a pipeline from Texas or Florida might give you access to top-tier athletes, while the Midwest could provide gritty linemen. Understanding these regional differences is crucial in developing a successful recruiting strategy.
Tailoring Resources Based on Program Size In the real world, the recruiting resources of Alabama or Ohio State are vastly different from those of a smaller school. This differentiation is brought to life in College Football 25. The top programs will have the resources to blanket the country and recruit nationwide, while smaller schools need to adopt a more targeted approach, making every visit, offer, and conversation count.
Authentically Unpredictable Transfer Portal The transfer portal has become a game-changer in real-life college football, and its unpredictability is reflected in College Football 25. Star players can leave programs unexpectedly, and roster management can be thrown into chaos as players move in and out. Understanding the motivations that drive players into the transfer portal and adapting quickly can help keep your program stable while continuing to attract new talent.
In College Football 25, building a program is no longer just about winning games on the field—it’s about understanding your players, managing their needs, and ensuring your recruiting strategy is aligned with your program’s strengths. Whether you’re a national powerhouse or a small school on the rise, the depth of roster management and recruiting means every decision counts.