College Football 26: The Ultimate Recruiting Guide for Dynasty Mode Master recruiting in Dynasty Mode with this step-by-step guide to building a powerhouse program and landing elite prospects season after season

Recruiting is at the heart of College Football 26’s Dynasty Mode. Every four years, your roster turns over as players graduate — meaning the only way to stay competitive is by continuously reloading your team with top-tier talent.

Your ability to identify and sign elite recruits determines whether your dynasty becomes a powerhouse or fades into obscurity. The system revolves around three key pillars that drive every recruiting cycle:

Individual Motivations: Each recruit has unique goals and deal breakers that you must uncover through interaction.
Regional Talent Pools: Player quality varies by region, reflecting real-world high school data.
Resource Management: Big programs can recruit nationally, while smaller schools must be strategic and targeted.

Understanding these pillars sets the foundation for building a sustainable recruiting pipeline.

📋 Building Your Recruiting Board

Before your first game of the season, you’ll create a recruiting board with up to 35 targets and 35 scholarships to distribute. With thousands of high school players to evaluate, initial setup is crucial.

Here’s how to prioritize:

Target five-star prospects with a pipeline rating of 5 first — especially in positions of need.
Follow with four-star prospects who have high pipeline ratings, then three-star recruits in your strongest regions.
Pay attention to player motivations. If a recruit’s top priorities align poorly with your school’s strengths, they’re unlikely to commit.

As the season progresses, fine-tune your search based on key traits like height, weight, and play style. Over time, you’ll develop a recruiting rhythm that fits your school’s identity.

⏱️ Managing Recruiting Hours

Recruiting in College Football 26 is all about time management. Your available hours depend on team prestige — for example, a five-star school starts with 1,000 hours, while a smaller program gets around 350.

Each prospect can receive up to 50 hours per week (70 with the Always Be Crootin’ perk). How you spend them matters:

Scout: 10 hours (3–5 sessions to fully scout)
Offer Scholarship: 5 hours
Search Social Media: 5 hours
DM Player: 10 hours
Contact Friends/Family: 25 hours
Send the House: 50 hours
Soft Sell: 20 hours (Top 5 schools only)
Hard Sell: 40 hours (Top 5 schools only)
Sway: 30 hours (Top 5 schools only)
Schedule Visit: 40 hours (does not count against 50-hour limit)

Your goal is to remain above each recruit’s weekly cutoff line, ensuring your school stays in their top group as they narrow from Top 8 to Top 3 and finally commit.

🏫 Mastering School Grades

Your school’s reputation plays a massive role in recruiting success. College Football 26 uses 14 school grades, most of which can improve (or decline) over time based on your program’s performance.

Key categories include:

Academic Prestige: Fixed rating based on school reputation.
Athletic Facilities: Quality of your program’s training environment.
Brand Exposure: National visibility and fan following.
Championship Contender: Determined by your current rankings and record.
Coach Prestige & Stability: Success and tenure of your coaching staff.
Program Tradition: Historical success through titles and awards.
Pro Potential: Likelihood of current players reaching the NFL.
Playing Time & Style: How recruits fit your system and depth chart.
Proximity to Home & Stadium Atmosphere: Factors that add authenticity and realism to each player’s decision.

When interacting with recruits or hosting visits, match your school’s strengths (green indicators) with the player’s motivations. Avoid red mismatches to maintain interest and avoid losing momentum.

🗓️ Scheduling Visits and Closing the Deal

The final piece of the recruiting puzzle is the Schedule Visit feature — available once a recruit finalizes their Top 5 schools and you’ve offered a scholarship.

Each visit costs 40 hours, but doesn’t count against individual prospect limits. You can host up to four prospects per week during home games or bye weeks.

Tips for maximizing visit impact:

Match recruits’ interests with your program strengths.
Avoid inviting multiple players at the same position (e.g., two quarterbacks).
Pair complementary positions (QB + LT) to build synergy.
Most importantly — win the game during their visit.

After a verbal commitment, honor any promises you made. Losing too many games or breaking a commitment factor (like “Championship Contender”) can cause recruits to flip before signing day.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Recruiting in College Football 26 is about balance — managing time, understanding player motivations, and aligning your school’s identity with the talent you pursue.

Nail these fundamentals, and you’ll turn your dynasty into a perennial contender loaded with five-star talent year after year.