College Football 26 Offseason Guide: How to Maximize Player Development

The offseason in College Football 26 is one of the most overlooked yet most important phases of Dynasty mode. It’s where your players gain their biggest XP boosts, and it’s also where dynasties are quietly made-or broken. If you don’t understand what actually drives progression, you’ll end up with slower player growth while your rivals build powerhouse teams. For those looking to give their roster an extra edge, knowing when and how to buy College Football 26 Coins can help accelerate training upgrades and unlock key coaching builds. After testing across multiple dynasties, here’s a ranked breakdown of the six biggest factors influencing offseason development, from least impactful to absolutely game-changing. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to focus on to maximize your roster’s growth.

6. Facilities (Barely Matters)

At first glance, it looks like athletic facilities are supposed to be a big deal for offseason progression. EA even mentioned that better facilities increase XP gain. But testing shows the effect is tiny.

· A+ facility: ~39 XP per player

· F facility: ~29 XP per player

That’s only a 10 XP swing across the entire scale. In practice, upgrading from a B to a B- is less than a 1 XP difference per player. Facilities may look flashy, but compared to other factors, they’re a small piece of the puzzle.

5. Position Differences

Some positions naturally gain slightly more (or less) XP during the offseason, though the margins aren’t huge.

· Overperformers: Offensive linemen (tackles and guards were +5 XP), centers (+3 XP), and quarterbacks (+1-2 XP).

· Neutral: Wide receivers, running backs, corners, safeties, tight ends.

· Underperformers: Defensive ends (-4 to -5 XP), defensive tackles (-3 to -4 XP), and linebackers (-5 XP).

These differences won’t completely change how you recruit, but they explain why certain players don’t progress as quickly as you expect. Keep it in mind when evaluating rosters.

4. Player Year (The Youth Advantage)

The younger the player, the faster the growth. This is one of the clearest patterns in College Football 26:

· Redshirt Freshmen: ~39 XP

· Sophomores: ~37 XP

· Juniors: ~34 XP

· Seniors: ~29 XP

That’s nearly a 10-point swing between the youngest and oldest players. The takeaway? Freshmen and sophomores are your best long-term investments. Transfers and seniors may help immediately, but younger players develop more efficiently over multiple years.

3. Redshirting (Extra Growth Over Time)

Redshirting doesn’t directly boost offseason XP. A redshirt freshman develops at the same pace as a sophomore with the same dev trait. So why redshirt?

Because it gives your player one extra year in the program, which means one additional offseason of progression. Over a full career, that can mean an extra 20-50 XP that you’d otherwise miss.

This makes redshirting most effective for normal or impact players who need more time to reach their potential. Elite players usually develop so quickly (and may declare early for the draft) that the benefit is smaller.

2. Coaching Builds (Program-Defining)

This is where teams start separating themselves. Coaching upgrades are multipliers that directly boost offseason progression, and stacking them can double your gains.

Key upgrades include:

· Motivator Tier 3: Put in the Work → boosts offseason training XP.

· Talent Developer Tier 1: Pay It Forward → bonus XP when positions are drafted.

· Master Motivator Tier 3: Everybody Eats → global XP boost.

· Talent Developer Tier 2: Whisperer → accelerates growth for freshmen and sophomores.

When applied across multiple coordinators, these boosts compound. It’s not unusual for elite players with stacked coaching perks to gain 100+ XP in one offseason. Neglecting coaching upgrades is the fastest way to cap your team’s ceiling.

1. Development Traits (The King of Progression)

By far the biggest driver of player growth is development traits. Nothing else comes close.

· Elite: ~66 XP per offseason

· Star: ~50 XP

· Impact: ~36 XP

· Normal: ~22 XP

That’s a three-to-one ratio between elite and normal players. Facilities, positions, redshirting-they all pale in comparison. If you want to build a dynasty, recruiting and retaining players with elite or star dev traits should be your top priority.

Final Takeaways

When it comes to offseason progression in College Football 26, here’s the true hierarchy:

1. Development Traits - the foundation of all growth.

2. Coaching Builds - multipliers that can supercharge progression.

3. Redshirting - adds an extra year of XP gains.

4. Player Year - younger players always grow faster.

5. Position Differences - small but noticeable.

6. Facilities - the least impactful.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: obsess over dev traits and coaching builds. That’s how you consistently outpace rivals and build dynasties that last. And for players looking to gain an extra advantage without breaking the bank, investing in cheap NCAA 26 Coins can help unlock crucial upgrades faster and keep your roster developing at peak speed.