NCAA Football 14 Day One Review

I buy NCAA Football every year. And almost every year, I feel that the game is better than all the years before.

Whether it be playing for rivalry trophies, regular exhibition games, or a dynasty. Every year it seemed to be better than before.

A lot of things stay the same, but they usually improve enough to warrant spending another $60 to get the new game, with the new features and the new updated roster.

This year's NCAA Football is definitely the same story. I feel that EA definitely stepped it up this year.

Starting with the basics, the colors are more dynamic, the uniforms are updated and now you can choose different gloves for your team.

The intros to the games are different, making it look more like a television broadcast. The only nit-pick I have with this is it looks to be clips from the game you are getting ready to play, which seems weird, but not anything too detrimental. 

At halftime they have added a new "halftime show". You don't have anyone sitting at a desk analyzing the game, but it has analyze along with replays if big plays as well as a side by side comparison of team stats.

Adding this along with the new infinity running system and updated option plays that work a lot better than years past, it makes for exciting and entertaining games.

Last year's game seemed to have a little trouble with passing, more specifically yards after catch. It seemed most passes, your wide receiver would catch the ball and immediately get tackled. This year's game seems to have a lot more opportunity for the receiver to escape tacklers, and gain those important yards after the catch.

On the other side of the ball, the defense seems to be a little tougher this year, especially trying to stop a no-huddle option running offense.

You have to mix up your defensive plays more this year, making the game seem even more realistic. Every once in a while I do notice wide receivers getting wide open when you pick an obvious pass defense, but it happens sometimes. You just have to know how to adjust.

When you go further into the game, the dynasty mode seems to be similar to last year, although recruiting is more simple, and much quicker. Instead of having to choose phone calls for every prospect, you have a pool of "points" that you can use for each person. You can spend anywhere from 5 points to however mug you want to spend, although you most likely want to spread them out somewhat evenly.

In recruiting it also shows you how far behind you are compared to other teams, so you know about how many points you need to spend on this prospect to jump the opposing teams.

I'll admit, I haven't cracked into the Ultimate Team mode yet, other than opening up my complimentary packs of cards. However, this is only day one of NCAA Football 14.

After about a full day of playing NCAA Football 14, I can honestly say that in my opinion this is the best of the series. 12 was good, 13 was better, and 14 is downright awesome.

Updated rosters and graphics are enough for me to want to run out and buy the game year after year, but after you run some plays and really get to see the way it plays out on the field, you should be able to tell the difference between this game and the years past.

You can pick it up at any local video game store, as well as big box stores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart. I encourage you to do so, and play the best NCAA Football that EA has put out.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle

matt.projectcfb@gmail.com

College Football Playoff: Will This Fix The System?

Compared to every other major sports' playoff format, the college football bowl system seem the most controversial. If you ask me (and since you are reading this, I assume you are in fact asking) the NCAA basketball tournament is the most fun to watch playoff format to watch, even if you aren't a big basketball fan. The unpredictability and drama makes it second to none in my eyes, and I am not the biggest basketball fan in the world. After years and years of fans wanting it, the college football world is jumping on board.... Well sort of. Unlike the 64... uhh I mean 68 team NCAA basketball tournament, starting in 2014, college football is going to a  4 team playoff. Now college football historians, you do not have to worry about the New Years Day bowl games going away. Instead, the 4 teams will face off in a final four of sorts on New Years Day in the traditional bowl games. With the two winners facing off in the National Championship Game that will be contested in a different city each year.

Since 2009, there have been major rumblings about a playoff being needed to truly crown a national champion. In the 2010 National championship game, in which we saw Alabama begin their impressive run with a win over the Texas Longhorns. Both teams were a perfect 13-0 going into the game, but they weren't the only undefeated teams in the country that season. The Cincinnati Bearcats, TCU Horned Frogs and Boise State Broncos were also undefeated and all ranked in the BCS top 6 at the end of the season with the 12-1 Florida Gators as the only other team in the top 6.

You also had the next year when Oregon and Auburn faced off in the National Championship with an undefeated TCU team on the outside looking in. Then there was the infamous 2011 season in which we saw Alabama play in the National Championship Game, despite not only not winning their conference, but not even winning their division when facing off against the only undefeated team in the nation that year, the SEC Champion LSU Tigers. The 2011 season I feel is what got the ball rolling on the playoff train with 3 one loss teams all with a legitimate case to make the national championship game in Oklahoma State, Stanford and Alabama. Rather than going with a new match up, the BCS decided to go with a rematch of one of the better games of the 2011 season in Alabama vs LSU as it's title game, much to the chagrin of many fans and writers. Then last season you had the undefeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish face off with the one loss Alabama Crimson Tide who got the title nod over one loss Oregon and Kansas State.

From 2009 to now you really could make an argument that a playoff could have significantly altered the college football landscape. How much differently would it be if BCS busters like Boise State and TCU were given the opportunity to play for a national championship? Would Alabama have became one of the most dominant dyansties in college football history? Now, I don't mean to get into hypotheticals but those are legitimate questions. The biggest knock on the aforementioned TCU and Boise State was that they didn't play in "power" conferences, but with the 4 team playoff I do think that TCU or Boise State would have at the very least PLAYED in one of the national championship games, if not potentially WINNING one.

Now I am not saying that a playoff will fix all the problems in the system though. For example, after the 2009 season we saw 5 undefeated teams in Alabama, Texas,  Cincinnati, TCU and Boise State. With the new 4 team playoff system one team would still be left on the outside looking in. The polls, both computer and coaches, will still play a role in determining who does and doesn't get the opportunity to play for the national championship. But I feel that this new playoff system will do a lot to quiet any discussion of the "best" team not necessarily being the national champion, with the obligatory crazy fan conspiracy theories not withstanding of course. But I am interested, like I'm sure the rest of the college football world is, to see how this playoff plays out. Will this playoff change the 'power' conference mentality? Will the SEC still remain as dominant as they have been in recent years? Only time will tell.

- Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez

josh.projectcfb@gmail.com

NCAA Football 14 Preview

* I am not a video game blogger or writer. I decided to write about the new NCAA Football game because it's the exclusive college football video game. Please bare with me on this video game preview.

On July 9, EA Sports' NCAA Foootball 14 drops. NCAA Football has been a huge seller for EA Sports since its inception. This year they look to have their best one yet.

After playing many games on the demo, which was released June 18, I can say that this is definitely going to be a fun game to play. With updated uniforms, physic system, animations and cut scenes this game should be a step above all the previous NCAA Football games.

In the demo, which you can download on your console, you can play three different games. Ohio State vs Michigan, Alabama vs Virginia Tech and Oregon vs Texas A&M. All matchups will actually occur this season, like Alabama vs Virginia Tech in week one.

They can't use actual player names, although once the game is out you will be able to download rosters from the internet, so in the demo it generates fake names. It's kind of weird to see Johnny Manziel or Marcus Mariota have a different name, but it doesn't hurt the game play.

No game is perfect, and obviously this one has flaws like any other. One big gripe is that if a defensive player is playing a zone defense, if the quarterback starts to scramble the defensive player won't leave his zone to take down the QB. Kind of aggravating when Braxton Miller is chugging down the field and you watch Jake Ryan just standing and watching.

I'm sure this issue, among any others will be addressed by EA, and hopefully a patch will be released soon after launch.

After playing all three games several times, I have noticed many different cut scenes, tackle animations and more. I also don't feel like I've had the same game over and over. Each game is a new task. I've won games 49-0 and I've squeaked by 31-28.

The option works a little better as does the stiff arm. There is also a new feature where you can make the ball carrier accelerate, but only for a limited time depending on their stamina. Something to make the game even more realistic.

If you are a college football fan and a video gamer, this is definitely worth a pick up. I am very impressed with this game, and have only played the demo. There are other modes in the actual game, but we won't be able to see how those play out until the game is officially released.

NCAA Football 14 comes out on July 9. You'll be able to pick it up at GameStop, Best Buy, Wal-Mart or many other retailers.

- Matt Lytle

@mattlytle

matt.projectcfb@gmail.com