College Football 25 has been a monumental success, earning widespread praise and setting records as the best-selling sports video game in U.S. history. However, despite its achievements, one major issue stands out that EA must address before the release of College Football 26: the wear and tear system.

While EA Sports deserves recognition for reviving the long-dormant series in a big way, refining the gameplay experience is essential to maintaining player engagement. With an annual release cycle now in place, EA must ensure each new installment offers improvements that make it worth the investment. One of the biggest frustrations in College Football 25 is how the wear and tear system operates—punishing players unfairly and diminishing the value of top-tier athletes, including those obtained through College Football 25 Coins in Ultimate Team.

Why Wear and Tear Needs a Major Overhaul

The wear and tear system was introduced to enhance realism by tracking the toll of each hit and fall on players. The idea is that repeated impacts reduce a player's attributes, simulating the real-life effects of fatigue and injuries. For example, if a running back takes a big hit to the lower leg, their speed and agility may decrease. Similarly, if a quarterback gets sacked multiple times, their throwing ability can take a significant hit.

In theory, this mechanic encourages smarter gameplay, forcing players to manage substitutions, avoid unnecessary contact, and make strategic decisions—such as running out of bounds instead of taking a hit. However, in practice, the system is often too harsh and inconsistent, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.

One of the biggest examples of this flaw came from College Football 25 content creator Throne, who showcased how the wear and tear system unfairly affected players. In one of his videos, Joe Burrow—a 98 Overall Ultimate Team card—suffered severe attribute reductions after taking just a single hit in the pocket, without even falling to the ground. The effects were staggering:

    Speed dropped by 11 points

    Throw on the Run decreased by 10 points

    Throw Power fell by 7 points

    Throw Accuracy took a 2-point hit

These are massive reductions for a single hit, and they only get worse as the game progresses.

To make matters worse, this issue affects one of the most valuable cards in Ultimate Team. The 98 Overall Joe Burrow card costs one million College Football 25 Coins, making it the second most expensive item in the mode. Players invest significant time and resources into acquiring these elite athletes, only to see them rendered ineffective after minimal contact. This completely undermines the purpose of spending College Football 25 Coins on high-rated cards, as they become liabilities far too quickly.

Impact Across Different Game Modes

The frustrations with the wear and tear system aren't limited to Ultimate Team. The mechanic also plays a major role in Dynasty and Road to Glory, where even minor collisions can cause players to experience drastic attribute reductions. While offline players have the option to turn off wear and tear, online players are forced to deal with its often unfair consequences.

This is especially problematic in competitive matches, where losing a star player due to an exaggerated wear and tear penalty can completely change the outcome of a game. Instead of rewarding skill, it introduces an element of randomness that frustrates players and reduces the sense of control over the game.

How EA Can Fix the Wear and Tear System

EA Sports has two primary options to address this issue: either nerf the wear and tear system to make it less punishing or remove it altogether. The mechanic should add realism without making elite players nearly useless after just one or two hits.

Potential solutions include:

    Adjusting attribute reductions so they happen more gradually over the course of a game rather than after single plays.

    Introducing recovery mechanics that allow players to regain lost attributes if they avoid contact for a certain period.

    Providing an option to toggle wear and tear in online play, giving players more control over their experience.

    Ensuring high-rated cards in Ultimate Team—especially those bought with CFB 25 Coins—aren't unfairly impacted, preserving their value and effectiveness.

At the very least, EA must rebalance the system so that top-tier players don't experience drastic declines after minor hits. If a million-coin Joe Burrow card can become ineffective within a few plays, it completely devalues the purpose of spending College Football 25 Coins on premium athletes.

Final Thoughts

College Football 25 is an outstanding return for the franchise, but there's still room for improvement. The wear and tear system, while an interesting concept, is far too punishing and inconsistent. EA needs to either significantly nerf or completely remove it before the launch of College Football 26.

If EA fails to address this issue, players may start questioning whether it's worth investing in future releases—especially when high-value Ultimate Team cards can become liabilities after just a few plays.

For now, all we can do is hope EA listens to community feedback and makes the necessary adjustments to keep the College Football series moving forward in the right direction.

MMOexp College Football 25 Team