Chapter 2: The Top 25

This section provides team breakdowns of the top 25 college football teams, as rated by NCAA Football 06. Each breakdown includes statistics for the key players, 2004 on the field statistics, and analysis.

Each position player is rated in several different categories. The following list reveals the statistic and description. Note that some of the statistics from the game were removed in these tables, namely the tackle and kicking statistics as they don’t apply to these positions.

• Overall (OVR) - The overall rating for the player. The higher the better!
• Speed (SPD) - How fast the player can run.
• Strength (STR) - The player’s strength, which affects his ability to break tackles.
• Awareness (AWR) - A player’s ability to react and adjust. High awareness generally comes with more experience.
• Agility (AGI) - The player’s agility, enhancing his ability to switch directions.
• Acceleration (ACC) - How fast a player reaches full speed. Great for sprinting through open holes in your line.
• Catch (CTH) - How well the player can catch. A higher rating means fewer drops.
• Carry (CAR) - How well the player holds onto the football. A higher rating means the less chance of a fumble.
• Jump (JMP) - The player’s ability to jump, such as for grabbing high passes.
• Break Tackles (BRK) - The player’s ability to break tackles.
• Throwing Power (THP) - How far a player can throw the ball.
• Throwing Accuracy (THA) - How accurate a player throws.
• Pass Block (PBK) - How well a player pass blocks.
• Run Block (RBK) - How well a player run blocks.
• Tackle (TAK) - A player’s ability to tackle.
• Kick Power (KPW) - A kicker’s power. Higher power means longer kicks.
• Kick Accuracy (KAC) - A kicker’s accuracy.
• Stamina (STA) - The player’s stamina level. The higher the rating, the more the player can be in the game before he becomes fatigued.
• Injury (INJ) - The likelihood of an injury. The higher the rating, the less likely a player will get injured.

Also, in the statistics for each team, note that all teams possess Goal Line and Hail Mary offensive formations in their playbooks. Coaching strategies were taken from Dynasty mode.

#1 - USC Trojans

• ’04 Record: 13-0, National Champions (Beat Oklahoma in Orange Bowl)
• Conference: Pac-10 (8-0, 1st)
• ’04 Offensive Passing Stats: 13th (271.7 yards per game)
• ’04 Offensive Rushing Stats: 33rd (177.4 yards per game)
• Offense Type: West Coast
• Coaching Strategy Offense: 50% Pass, 50% Run; Aggressive
• ’04 Defensive Passing Stats: 34th (199.9 yards allowed per game)
• ’04 Defensive Rushing Stats: 1st (79.4 yards allowed per game)
• Base Defense: 4-3
• Coaching Strategy Defense: 51% Run, 49% Pass; Conservative
• Coach Prestige: 6 stars
• Playbook: Ace-Normal, Ace-Bunch, Ace-Slot, Ace-Y-Trips, Ace-Empty, I-Form-Normal, I-Form-Twin TE, Strong-Twins, Pro-Normal

Impact Players

Expectations couldn’t be higher for the USC Trojans...and with good reason. The Trojans are coming off an undefeated, National Championship season and their star Heisman winning QB #11 passed up millions in the NFL for a chance to repeat. If you want a strong team to learn the ins and outs of NCAA 06, you can’t go wrong with the Trojans: USC fields the highest rated quarterback and running back--both are Heisman candidates and, of course, impact players.

The USC Trojans field the highest rated quarterback and running back in the game.

The Trojans’ roster includes players rated 90+ overall at nearly every position--even the USC punter is rated 99! Involve HB #5 heavily into your offensive gameplan, and virtually every play when he’s in the zone. His 98 speed, 99 agility, acceleration, and stamina, and 86 catch ability are all tops in the NCAA. The USC receiving squad are solid, but without a impact player; utilize QB #11’s high accuracy and awareness in a short-to-medium passing game utilizing HB #5 out of the backfield and the Trojan’s highly rated tight end to open up routes for the receivers.

#2 - Tennessee Volunteers

• ’04 Record: 10-3 (Beat Texas A&M in Cotton Bowl)
• Conference: SEC East (7-1, 1st)
• ’04 Offensive Passing Stats: 59th (213.5 yards per game)
• ’04 Offensive Rushing Stats: 24th (186.0 yards per game)
• Offense Type: Balanced
• Coaching Strategy Offense: 61% Run, 39% Pass
• ’04 Defensive Passing Stats: 86th (236.4 yards allowed per game)
• ’04 Defensive Rushing Stats: 25th (120.0 yards allowed per game)
• Base Defense: 4-3
• Coaching Strategy Defense: 44% Run, 56% Pass
• Coach Prestige: 6 stars
• Playbook: Ace-Normal, Ace-Bunch, I-Form-Normal, I-Form-Slot, I-Form-Twin TE, Shotgun-2 Back Slot, Shotgun-Spread, Shotgun-Trips, Strong-Normal

Impact Players

The Tennessee Volunteers are the preseason favorite to win the SEC but picking a premiere team from the ultra-competitive SEC is simply rolling the dice. The Volunteers have a strong running game, led by impact player HB #21--a bruising power back with a break tackle rating of 90. Combine the Volunteers’ ability to churn out ground yardage and burn clock with an A+ defense (one of just two rated A+ in the game) that features two impact players and many returning starters and it equals a proven formula for success.

The Volunteers’ roster features two capable quarterbacks, the faster "starter" QB #10 and the more experienced (89 vs. 80 awareness as well as much better composure) but slower QB #16. Run HB #21 strong from Ace and I-Form formations. Mix in Shotgun option and scrambles with the agile QB #10 but don’t hesitate to switch in the composed QB #16 if and when QB #10 gets rattled, especially on tough road games.