In College Football 25, each school is given a unique identity through the My School Grades system, which evaluates programs across 14 distinct categories. These grades reflect a program’s strengths, weaknesses, and overall attractiveness to recruits. They evolve dynamically over time based on your team’s performance, roster management, and the decisions you make throughout your Dynasty mode. With 134 schools and countless variables, no two programs are ever the same. Here’s a breakdown of each grade and how they influence your team’s success:
The 14 My School Grades
Playing Time: This grade represents how soon a recruit or player can expect to become a starter. It is calculated on a per-player basis by comparing the recruit’s overall rating (OVR) to your current roster. The more competitive the position group, the lower the grade for players at that position.
Playing Style: This reflects your team’s on-field identity, measured by key stats specific to each player archetype. For example, a Field General quarterback might be graded on passing yards per game, while a Power Back would be graded on rushing yards.
Championship Contender: This grade evaluates how close your program is to winning a championship, factoring in your team’s Top 25 ranking, overall team prestige, and roster composition using metrics like Bud Elliott’s Blue Chip Ratio, which measures the percentage of 4- and 5-star recruits on your roster.
Program Tradition: A historical look at your program’s success, this grade takes into account the number of Conference and National Championships, total wins, and individual player awards. Strong tradition attracts recruits who value established success.
Campus Lifestyle: This represents the environment and amenities offered by the city, surrounding area, and campus itself. Unlike other grades, this cannot be influenced by in-game actions but remains a permanent attribute of your school.
Stadium Atmosphere: Driven by the Toughest Places to Play ranking, this grade is based on your team’s performance in home games and the atmosphere generated by the crowd. Consistent home-field dominance improves this score.
Pro Potential: This grade projects the likelihood of your current players making it to the NFL. It’s a major factor for recruits looking to develop their pro careers.
Brand Exposure: A reflection of your school’s national brand recognition, this grade accounts for how often your team plays in prime-time games and the potential Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) opportunities available to players.
Academic Prestige: Based on real-world university rankings, this grade remains fixed and affects recruits who prioritize academic success alongside athletics.
Conference Prestige: This grade reflects the strength of your conference based on the prestige and success of all its member schools. Playing in a stronger conference boosts your program’s attractiveness.
Coach Prestige: A measure of your coaching staff’s reputation. The Head Coach carries the most weight, but coordinators also play a role. Successful seasons and sustained excellence improve this grade.
Coach Stability: This grade tracks the tenure of your coaching staff. A stable staff that’s been in place for years will improve this grade, reassuring recruits about the program’s long-term direction.
Athletic Facilities: The quality of your program’s training facilities, from weight rooms to advanced amenities like waterfalls and barbershops. Better facilities improve player development and recruit interest.
Proximity to Home: Unique to each recruit, this grade measures how close your school is to their home. Players often value being near their families, and a higher grade can help sway recruits from your school’s pipeline region.
How Grades Impact Your Program and Recruiting
Each grade has specific grading criteria. For instance, Playing Time is based on individual roster and recruiting situations. Signing top recruits can improve your team but may negatively impact playing time for current players, potentially pushing them into the transfer portal. Championship Contender combines factors like team rankings and roster strength, while Brand Exposure highlights your school’s NIL potential and national visibility.
Grades update dynamically throughout the season, with most adjusting week by week based on performance, and others updating at the end of the season. Regularly monitoring these grades is crucial, as a dip in certain areas can trigger decommitments from verbally committed recruits or lead to players entering the transfer portal.
The My School Screen and Weekly Reports
You can track your school’s performance through the My School screen, accessible from the Recruiting Hub. This screen provides a detailed view of your current grades, showing your school’s strengths and weaknesses and offering suggestions for improvement. For instance, you can see what steps to take to boost a low grade in Playing Time or Stadium Atmosphere.
Additionally, you’ll receive a weekly summary that highlights any changes in your grades, informing you of which areas were positively or negatively impacted by your recent actions. This report also alerts you to any players at risk of transferring due to low grades in specific categories.
Team Prestige: Your Program’s Overall Rating
Collectively, your My School grades form your program’s Team Prestige, which is essentially your school’s GPA. Schools are graded from 0 to 5 stars in half-star increments, based on their current grades. Achieving and maintaining a five-star prestige rating is extremely challenging and is reserved for the elite programs. This rating has a direct impact on recruiting, as higher prestige schools attract higher-caliber players.
In conclusion, the My School Grades system in College Football 25 introduces a comprehensive, dynamic way to evaluate and grow your program. With 14 unique categories influencing everything from recruiting to player retention, your ability to manage and improve these grades will determine the long-term success of your Dynasty.