[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":60},["ShallowReactive",2],{"tip-cfb-27-stop-big-kick-returns":3,"pillar-cfb-27-stop-big-kick-returns":43,"links-cfb-27-stop-big-kick-returns":44,"parent-cfb-27-stop-big-kick-returns":59},{"id":4,"video_id":5,"knowledge_source_ids":6,"topic_title":8,"slug":9,"youtube_timestamp_url":10,"timestamp_seconds":11,"page_content_html":12,"tldr_summary":13,"faq_json":14,"meta_title":30,"meta_description":31,"status":32,"published_at":33,"game_tag":34,"category_tags":35,"search_keywords":38,"created_at":41,"updated_at":42},"801eefa6-fcd5-4a06-bb2d-2793265e448f","dc90c503-c0df-4c8a-8033-cead3d479f37",[7],"38cf6e09-ba3e-4c4b-9b82-02894b295261","Kickoff Defense Big Returns","cfb-27-stop-big-kick-returns","https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FqdnIsz_FieQ?t=1041",1041,"\u003Ch2>Stop Big Kick Returns in College Football 27. Here's the Exact Method\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\u003Cp>Big kick returns kill drives before they start. One bad coverage rep and the opponent is already in your red zone. Here's how to stop it. Every single time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>Use \u003Cstrong>Kickoff Left\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Push the left stick all the way left before you kick. Power matters - accuracy doesn't. Once the ball is in the air, tap \u003Cstrong>Circle (PS) \u002F B (Xbox)\u003C\u002Fstrong> to grab a gunner and push him all the way to the sideline. Then tap \u003Cstrong>Circle \u002F B\u003C\u002Fstrong> again, grab another player, get him involved. That's it. You're building a funnel. The returner has nowhere to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>Do this every single kickoff. Not sometimes. Every one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n---\n\n\u003Ch2>What Is the Kickoff Loop Method?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\u003Cp>The loop method is how you control your coverage guys AFTER the kick. Before the returner even touches the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>Most people kick it and just watch. They let the CPU run the coverage and hope for the best. That's a mistake. The CPU will give up the edge. You have to take control yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>Here's the sequence:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Col>\n  \u003Cli>Kick it, let the ball go\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Tap \u003Cstrong>Circle \u002F B\u003C\u002Fstrong>, select a gunner on the outside\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Push him all the way to the sideline, you want outside leverage\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Tap \u003Cstrong>Circle \u002F B\u003C\u002Fstrong> again, grab another player\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Push him into position too\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Let your guys make the tackle with NUMBERS\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Fol>\n\n\u003Cp>Run this a few times and it clicks. It's not complicated. You're just doing what the CPU won't do on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n---\n\n\u003Ch2>Why Does This Actually Work?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\u003Cp>You're creating a funnel. That's the whole idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>When you push your gunner to the outside, right sideline, you take away the most dangerous return lane. The returner can't get outside leverage on you. He's stuck going inside, right into everyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>And if he tries to reverse field: cut all the way across? That lane closes too. You've got multiple guys flying to the ball. Not one. Not two. \u003Cem>Multiple.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>One guy making a tackle on a kick return is a problem. One guy can get juked. One guy can get blocked. But when you've got four, five guys converging. That returner is going down, and he's going down early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>The result: fair catch, or a short return. Either way, you win that exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n---\n\n\u003Ch2>How to Set Up Kickoff Left the Right Way\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\u003Cp>Don't overthink the setup. Here's exactly what to do before the kick even happens:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cul>\n  \u003Cli>Select \u003Cstrong>Kickoff Left\u003C\u002Fstrong> from your kicking options\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Pick your coverage: Return Right, Middle Return, whatever is available\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Push the \u003Cstrong>left stick all the way to the left\u003C\u002Fstrong> before you kick\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Focus on \u003Cstrong>power\u003C\u002Fstrong>: get a good kick with solid power\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Accuracy? Doesn't really matter here. Don't stress it\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Cp>The direction and power placement does the work. Then you take over with the loop method once it's in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n---\n\n\u003Ch2>When Should You Use This?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\u003Cp>Every kickoff. There's no situation where you skip this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>Doesn't matter if the opponent hasn't returned one yet. Doesn't matter if it's the first drive of the game. The one time you go passive on kickoff coverage is the one time they house it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>This matters even MORE if:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cul>\n  \u003Cli>The opponent has a fast returner. Elite speed guys make one cut and they're gone\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>You're up late and can't afford a momentum swing\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>You're down and need a stop. Giving up field position on a return makes it worse\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Cp>Just make it a habit. Every kick, same routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n---\n\n\u003Ch2>Common Mistakes People Make on Kickoff Coverage\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\u003Cp>Most people do one of these wrong:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cul>\n  \u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Watching instead of controlling\u003C\u002Fstrong>. You kick it and sit there. The CPU gives up the edge. The returner gets outside. Gone.\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Only controlling one player\u003C\u002Fstrong>. You tap Circle once, push one guy, and stop. You want MULTIPLE guys involved. Tap it again. Get another one.\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Not getting all the way to the sideline\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Half-effort on the push means the gunner is still inside. The edge isn't taken. The return lane opens right back up.\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Stressing accuracy on the kick\u003C\u002Fstrong>. It doesn't matter. Power matters. Stop babying the accuracy meter and just get a clean, powerful kick.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\u003Cp>Fix those and the big return almost disappears from your games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n---\n\n\u003Ch2>Quick Recap, Do This Every Kickoff\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\u003Col>\n  \u003Cli>Select \u003Cstrong>Kickoff Left\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Push left stick left, kick with power\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Ball is in the air, tap \u003Cstrong>Circle \u002F B\u003C\u002Fstrong> immediately\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Push that gunner to the outside sideline, all the way\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Tap \u003Cstrong>Circle \u002F B\u003C\u002Fstrong> again. Get another player involved\u003C\u002Fli>\n  \u003Cli>Let your guys converge and make the tackle with numbers\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Fol>\n\n\u003Cp>That's the whole thing. Do it every kick. You're going to see way fewer big returns. And way fewer moments where the opponent flips field position and momentum in one play.\u003C\u002Fp>","Use **Kickoff Left** on every kickoff and manually control your gunners with Circle\u002FB to push them to the sideline. This \"loop method\" builds a sideline funnel that kills outside return lanes and forces the returner inside into your coverage. Stop letting the CPU run it. Take control yourself or give up big returns.",[15,18,21,24,27],{"answer":16,"question":17},"Use Kickoff Left and push the left stick all the way to the left before you kick. After the ball is in the air, tap Circle (PS) or B (Xbox) to grab a gunner and push him to the sideline, then tap it again to grab another player and get him in position too.","How do you stop big kick returns in College Football 27?",{"answer":19,"question":20},"The loop method is when you manually control your coverage guys after the kick, before the returner touches the ball. Instead of letting the CPU run coverage on its own, you tap Circle or B to select gunners and push them into position yourself to funnel the returner.","What is the kickoff loop method in College Football 27?",{"answer":22,"question":23},"It takes away the most dangerous return lane by removing the returner's outside leverage. He gets forced inside where your other players are waiting, and if he tries to reverse field that lane closes too because you have multiple guys converging.","Why does pushing your gunner to the sideline work on kickoffs?",{"answer":25,"question":26},"No. When using Kickoff Left, focus only on power and getting a good kick. Accuracy does not matter here.","Does accuracy matter on kickoffs in College Football 27?",{"answer":28,"question":29},"Every single kickoff - not sometimes. The page is clear that doing this consistently is what makes it work.","How often should you use the Kickoff Left method in College Football 27?","Stop Big Kick Returns in CFB 27 | Civil.GG","Use Kickoff Left with lane assignments in CFB 27 to funnel returners and eliminate big plays. Master kickoff defense and lock down field position now.","published","2026-07-11T03:00:17.496375+00:00","college_football_27",[36,37],"defense","general",[39,40],"kick return college football","bengals kick return touchdown","2026-07-11T02:55:51.959268+00:00","2026-08-04T05:10:38.834727+00:00",null,[45,49,52,56],{"anchor_text":46,"slug":47,"link_type":48},"Beginner Defensive Mistakes","beginner-defensive-mistakes-guide","cluster_to_cluster",{"anchor_text":50,"slug":51,"link_type":48},"Switch Stick Bug Fix","switch-stick-bug-fix-timing",{"anchor_text":53,"slug":54,"link_type":55},"20 Tips That Instantly Make You Better At CFB 27!","cfb-27-tips-instantly-better","cluster_to_pillar",{"anchor_text":57,"slug":58,"link_type":48},"Optimal Game Settings Configuration","cfb-26-optimal-game-settings",{"title":53,"slug":54},1785964557812]