Every Glitch In College Football 26 Explained

Every Glitch In College Football 26 Explained, Quick Reference

Look, there are 11 major glitches in College Football 26 that you need to know about. Some help you win games. Some will cost you games if you don't know the counter.

Here's what we're covering:

1. Inverted Routes, Get your halfback on routes he can't normally run
2. CB Matchups, Why this defensive adjustment breaks your coverage
3. Gap Shoot, The most broken run defense (and how to beat it)
4. Glitched QB Runs, Two plays that get automatic first downs
5. QB Rollout Glitch, Beat contain defense every time
6. Read Key Glitch, Why RPOs are broken against certain coverages
7. Punt Block Glitch, Block any punt (or give up a free TD)
8. Match Coverage "Glitch", Not really a glitch, but looks like one
9. Red Zone Slant Glitch, Automatic touchdown in the red zone
10. Show Blitz Glitch, How to accidentally give up free touchdowns
11. Man Coverage Shell "Glitch". Another fake glitch that ruins your defense

Some of these are game-breaking. Some are just annoying. ALL of them matter if you want to win more games.

How Do You Get Your Halfback On Routes He Can't Run?

The Inverted Routes bug opens up a ton of new routes for your offense. Routes your halfback could NEVER run normally.

What You Need:

• Call a play on offense
• Audible into another play where your halfback switches sides
• The new play needs your halfback on an automotion route

I'm using Notre Dame's playbook, but this works in almost every playbook.

Example Setup:

• Start in Gun Cluster, halfback is on the left
• Audible to Gun Bunch Offset, halfback moves to the right
• Hot route FAST. Before the halfback crosses over

When you bring up the hot route screen, it'll say tight end instead of halfback. That's because the automotion puts him in what the game considers a tight end spot.

Routes You Can Now Run:

• Deep Cross: halfback on a deep cross? That's not normal
• Slant Route. From the outside. Beats man coverage every time
• Backwards Texas, nasty in the red zone
• Wheel Route, going across the field

Memphis playbook works too. Use Trio Unbalanced Bunch. The halfback flips sides here too.

Call Inside Zone or audible over, make a quick hot route, and now you get:

• Texas route
• Reverse wheel
• Wrap the seam

All you need: halfback flipping sides into an automotion play. That's it.

Why Does CB Matchups Break Your Defense?

If you're using CB matchups on defense - STOP. There's a bug that hasn't been fixed.

The Problem:

You think "I want my best corner on their best receiver." Makes sense. That's football.

But watch what happens when the offense motions:

1. Motion happens
2. Your ENTIRE defense flips
3. Players reset in zone coverage: but they're flipped
4. Ball snaps
5. Receivers are WIDE OPEN

The guy on the outside? Wide open for a touchdown. Every time.

The Solution:

Leave CB matchups at default. Don't touch it.

Yeah, it makes band coverage tougher. In zone coverage, it's not the end of the world. But you HAVE to do it this way. Or you'll randomly give up free touchdowns.

What Is The Gap Shoot Defense And How Do You Beat It?

The Gap Shoot has been in the game for a while. It's a glitch. I avoided talking about it because it's game-breaking.

But everyone's running it now. So let's talk about it.

How to Run Gap Shoot:

Step 1: Choose the right formation

• You need three defensive linemen as the front
• 2-3 Odd works
• 3-3 Cub works
• Double Mug does NOT work
• 3-4 Tight works

Step 2: Position yourself

• Stand over the defensive tackle
• Get right on his butt
• You can even get into that squatting stance

Step 3: Execute

• When the ball snaps, shoot the gap
• The DT will come in

Most Popular Setup:

• Nickel 3-3 Mint
• Cover Three Match
• Spread your defensive line
• You'll come free almost every time

This is one free tip on beating the Gap Shoot. Members get the full Defensive Scheme with 20+ more adjustments, updated weekly. → civil.gg/become-a-member

How to Beat Gap Shoot:

It's not as hard as you think. But you DO have to know it.

Halfback Draws are KILLER

• Go to your play concepts
• Choose draws
• Halfback direct snap runs work great too

Example: Mid Draw out of Trey Open Halfback Strong

What happens:

• Draw plays use pass blocking
• Your offensive line doesn't block the same as normal run plays
• They're selling the pass instead

Sometimes the DTackle sheds and you get stopped. Can't do anything about that. But most of the time, you get picked up and can get good yards.

Another option: Trips Tight End Draw

This counter works at a pretty high clip. Gets people out of this run defense. Forces them into something else. Which opens up the rest of your shotgun runs.

Which QB Runs Are Basically Unstoppable In Short Yardage?

These QB run plays are dang near impossible to stop when you need a yard or two.

Oklahoma State Motion Speed Option

Formation: Single Back Y Trips X Off
Play: Motion Speed Option

How to run it:

1. Snap the ball
2. Watch the motion go across the field
3. Push the left stick up
4. You'll get this animation that's automatic

Picture this. You're down in the second half. Need a first down on fourth and short. This gets you two to three yards every single time.

Air Force Wing Bone Midline QB ISO

Formation: Wing Bone (Air Force playbook)
Play: Midline QB ISO (flipped)

Setup:

• Call Midline QB ISO
• Flip it using the right stick
• So the run's going right? Flick that right stick left

NASTY if you just need a couple yards.

How to Stop These Plays:

Stack the box. Put as many people in the box as you can.

Defense setup:

• Have a nose tackle
• Pinch your defensive line
• Slant them inside
• Get down here, right up on the center

Why this works:

• Oklahoma State play. Only comes from that formation with auto motion. See the formation? You know what's coming
• Wing Bone. If someone's in Wing Bone, you should be in this defense anyway

Defensive formations:

• Nickel 33, stops it fairly well
• Goal Line 53, if you really want to go overkill

They can still get a yard. That's why it's so dang good. But if you stack the box, you can stop it.

How Do You Roll Out Against Contain Defense Every Time?

This glitch makes rolling out work even against contain defenses. Makes throwing on the run super easy.

How Contain Usually Works:

Contains look like this. Usually one on both sides. Tap right bumper and left bumper for QB contains.

If you try to roll out on a contain, he usually won't let you. That's his job. As long as he's a good athlete.

But with this method, we can roll out pretty consistently. Not 100%, but pretty consistent.

The Setup Method:

There's weird logic when you combine untargeting and sliding your line.

Step 1: Pick your side (usually easier to roll to your strong hand, we'll say right)

Step 2: Full slide protection to the right, that's left bumper + right on the left stick

Step 3: Untarget the contain defender (usually the outermost defensive end). That's the flame icon, just go up on the right stick

What Happens:

This forces that contain guy to bump inside. The edge player won't make a play on you. Pretty consistent.

That edge guy stays inside. Allows you to throw whatever you want.

How to Use It Right:

Pair some good route combo attacking that side. If you have a fast QB, imagine how lethal this is.

What's better is not to spam this. Have it in your back pocket for big situations when you need to roll out.

If you can become a great pocket passer AND have the ability to hit a roll out whenever you want. Your offense becomes unstoppable.

Why Do RPOs Break Defense Every Single Time?

This glitch makes the defense react wrong EVERY SINGLE TIME. And I know why. And I know how to counter it.

The Play: RPO Read Y Flat

The play is RPO Read Y Flat, but it's actually ANY kind of RPO read. They're special.

An RPO read is a read option AND it's an RPO. Look at the blade. There's an R icon defender.

Here's The Problem:

On defense, I can see that this R icon defender is in a hard flat. He SHOULD be playing the hard flat.

But because he's the read key, the game registers him as a run defender. He will ALWAYS play the run. Whether it's the quarterback or halfback.

It Gets Worse:

Even if you:

• Go to RPO Pass Key
• Put pass key on Conservative
• Focus on Pass Coverage
• Even guess pass

Doesn't matter. He's the read key, not the pass key. He's still wide open.

Other Formations Where This Happens:

• Gun Bunch Open Offset. RPO Alert Screen, RPO Read Bubble
• Any formation where the read key is in pass coverage

How to Defend Annoying RPOs:

As a defense, we have to be aware of who the read key is. Even though we can't see him while on defense.

The Rule: The read key is usually:

• The first guy outside of the offensive tackle
• OR potentially the tight end depending

What That Means: We need SOMEBODY ELSE to play the RPO.

Example: Get a hard flat from a linebacker who is NOT the read key. He'll actually play his hard flat.

The Counter Strategy:

• Go into a defensive formation
• Make sure you have a defensive lineman outside of that tight end/tackle
• Now your linebacker can play the RPO

If You're Really Struggling:

Take whoever the RPO player is and man him up with somebody. Use a linebacker. He'll never be the read key from up there.

How to Use This on Offense:

You know that player will never actually defend the RPO. Use that to your advantage.

How Do You Block A Punt Every Time (Or Give Up A Free TD)?

This one's actually kind of crazy. Could come up for a HUGE stop when you need it most late in a game.

This is definitely toxic. But I don't feel super bad because:

1. It's May (game's been out a while)
2. The counter is really easy and could give you a free touchdown

How to Execute the Punt Block Glitch:

There is BIG TIME margin for error here. You could easily get countered.

On Defense:

• Call Field Goal Block Left
• Select Load Block Left

Make Your Substitution:

• Press Y or Triangle to sub
• Look for position where #17 is (or equivalent)
• Sub in your fastest player possible. Needs to be fast, tall
• You need 91 speed minimum

Execution:

1. Pre-snap: User the fast player you subbed in
2. Push the left stick down
3. When ball snaps: Attack the punter's foot
4. Come downhill and block it

This is NOT automatic. You can miss this. Takes practice and timing.

The Counter (Easy Touchdown for Offense):

If you catch your opponent trying this, you should have a free one-play touchdown.

Basic Counter:

• Look at what defense they're in
• If you see Field Goal Block, audible to your punt pass play
• Usually it's Fake Punt FB Flat
• Snap the ball and look for guys going deep

Yeah, you have the punter throwing and random dudes catching. But this is a touchdown waiting to happen.

Advanced Anti-Scum Counter:

1. Press Y or Triangle to open subs
2. Sub in Wide Receivers
3. Call Fake Punt Pullback Flat
4. Now you have actual wide receivers running routes

The punter throw can be challenging. But when you complete it with actual receivers, it's over.

Most people quit trying this glitch once you counter them successfully.

Is Match Coverage Really Glitched Or Just Misunderstood?

A lot of people call this a bug or glitch because of how wide open this player gets. But it's actually not a bug at all.

This right here is a match coverage bomb.

The Setup:

I'm in Gun Trips Tight End. This route combo works from really any trips set. Even from Gun Bunch.

Key, call a play action play. That's the key at first.

On defense, I'm calling Cover Four Palms. Palms is a match coverage.

What Match Coverage Looks Like:

Match defense is a hybrid between man coverage and zone coverage. Notice people running around. Normal zone wouldn't do that. Zone would sit. Man would play all cross. This is a hybrid.

The Route Combo That Bombs Match:

• Outside wide receiver: Comeback route
• Middle wide receiver: Streak
• Inside wide receiver: Crosser
• Drag coming back across

If we were in Bunch, that outside guy would be on a corner route.

Why This Works:

When we snap. It's a one-play touchdown.

The defender responsible is the quarter flat. He's not in the run fit, but he IS the force defender (see that F over him?).

Remember I told you to run play action? Watch him on the play action. He'll sit flatfooted for a second because of the PA. That allows my streak to run right by him.

This is textbook football. Play action to get over top of the defense. Easy peasy.

How To Combat This:

Two ways:

Method 1: Guess Pass

• If someone's running lots of play action, guess pass. Right bumper + up on right stick
• Makes sure your defense doesn't react to PA
• Won't be wide open anymore

Method 2: Deep Half Adjustment (My Favorite)

• If running match coverage (Palms or Quarters)
• Bombs usually come from trips side
• Take the high safety on trips side
• Put him in a deep half

The deep half won't match, but the rest of the defense will still match. Much harder to bomb.

Could they pass lead inside? Yes. Then put him in middle third instead.

These aren't glitches. It's finding holes in the coverage. Match is rule-based defense. There's ways to manipulate those rules just like offensive coordinators do in real life.

That's football for you, brother.

What's The Red Zone Slant Glitch That Gets Automatic Touchdowns?

This is one of my favorite red zone concepts. Based around a little glitch called the red zone slant glitch.

How to Run It:

Defense: Call Tampa 2

Offense: Any pass play. I like a trip set with trips to the short side of the field.

Route Setup:

• Outside WR, drag (even if stock drag, hot route him)
• Middle WR, curl route (stems all the way down, basically a hitch)
• Inside WR, slant
• Tight end, slant

This slant coming back across is our money maker. Gets open above that cloud flat.

In Tampa 2, outside corner is in cloud flat. But with this setup, we suck him down and get above him for a touchdown.

Why The Hitch Matters:

Without the hitch? Interception or close to it. Not open anymore.

This baby hitch holds down the cloud flat, allowing us to get above him.

Works Against Multiple Coverages:

• Cover 2
• Cover 3
• Cover 4
• Man coverage

Make sure you set it up right. If you cheat a step, it won't work.

What Can Defense Do?

I'll be honest, it's tough. This is manipulating your zones. This is a legitimate glitch I hope EA fixes.

Defense Options:

1. Man up that tight end. Makes it a tight throw. Man coverage gets cooked, but it can help bracket
2. Switch stick over there and take it away yourself. Best way to do it

People who run this get super locked in on this one route. That slant late. If you see someone doing this, you can switch stick it and potentially get an interception.

When people run a glitch like this, they become tunnel vision on that route. If you recognize it, you can catch that pick in a high leverage situation. Could win you the game.

How Does Show Blitz Break Your Defense Without You Knowing?

This is one of those annoying glitches I just want you to know how to avoid. Super frustrating.

The Feature:

Show blitz linebackers. Show blitz has been in the game for a long time. This year, they let us show blitz ONLY our linebackers.

How it works:

• Global show blitz: Press Y/Triangle + RB/R1, safeties AND linebackers show blitz
• Linebacker show blitz only: Press RB/R1, only linebackers show blitz

Great feature. Gives flexibility to show blitz coverage OR linebackers. Don't have to do both.

The Problem:

With certain plays, if I show blitz linebackers only, which is one of my favorite adjustments, then make another adjustment after (like blitz one of them), watch what happens. One of my safeties will show blitz.

Why This Matters:

Example: 335 Three High Odd running Three Double Cloud High Low Dig. Show blitz linebackers - super cool. But if I blitz one of them? These guys all come down.

That's terrible. These guys are in deep zones. What's that leave open? Wide-open touchdown if anybody has a streak.

The Fix:

When you show blitz your linebackers. Simply don't make an individual adjustment after it.

• Right on D-pad → RB/R1 → show blitz linebackers
• Leave it like that
• Do NOT make other adjustments

Or else you'll potentially give up a free touchdown because your players get out of alignment.

Massive and annoying bug. Hope EA changes this. I love the show blitz adjustment for just linebackers. Don't want safeties getting involved.

Is Man Coverage Shell Actually Broken Or Are You Using It Wrong?

This looks like a glitch, but it's actually not.

Take a look at this guy, Everett. He's in a deep zone across the field. Obviously not what he's supposed to be in. Leaves open massive holes in coverage because he's super out of position.

So what's going on? How is this not a glitch?

The Real Problem: Coverage Shells

This comes down to people using coverage shells without really knowing what they're doing.

Coverage shell two man and cover zero. Both man coverage shells.

The point of a coverage shell is so your defense looks like the coverage shell you select. Pretty straightforward.

Here's How It Works:

Choose a cover three coverage shell. Come out in cover three shell, but choose cover four? It'll look like cover three, but it's actually cover four.

Where People Mess Up:

Come out in a man coverage shell like two man or cover zero, but then select cover three sky?

It'll look like two man, but it's actually cover three.

Your zones will be out of position because you chose a man coverage shell. They're aligning based on how you showed them.

Even Worse With Motion:

If you motion. Watch our zones. They can really mess up. Sometimes they'll naturally bump (nice when that happens). Sometimes they SUPER mess up and go all around.

Sometimes we don't get anybody carrying. Sometimes they can't.

Example: Shifting Your Tight End

Shift out your tight end: your whole defense switches.

Did they just glitch? NO, you're in a man coverage shell.

The Bottom Line:

Probably avoid those. Or be aware of what you're doing. You can have massive holes in your coverage if you're just unaware.

That's just wide open because we're in zone in a cover two coverage shell.