Okay, so I recently tried figuring out how to run the read option in College Football 25, and let me tell you, it was quite the experience! I gotta share this with y’all.
First, I jumped into the game, excited to try out this play that everyone talks about. I’d heard it was super effective, you know, for making big plays and stuff. I went straight into the skills trainer mode, because I don’t know anything about this, right? Then I spent like maybe 30 mins to figure out what the heck this skills trainer mode is. And guess what, it’s basically a tutorial! This is perfect for a newbie like me.
After that, I picked a team and started a game. I remember seeing some tips online about watching the defense, especially the defensive end or the linebacker. So, I tried to keep my eyes glued to those guys, but man, it’s harder than it looks. They move so fast!
Anyway, I took the snap as the quarterback and tried to decide whether to hand the ball off or keep it myself. At first, I always planned to hand it off. This is what that online article told me, and I would give it to the running back. But then I realized I had to react to what the defender was doing. If he crashed down, I was supposed to keep the ball. The online guide also mentioned that I need to press A or X to keep the ball with my QB, otherwise it would hand off automatically. I figured out this was the key, and I didn’t know this before reading the guide!
I tried a few plays, and honestly, I messed up a lot. Sometimes I kept the ball when I should’ve handed it off, and sometimes I did the opposite. It was frustrating, but also kinda fun. I was learning something new, even if I was failing at it. haha
Then I remembered this other tip about using the pass lead. I didn’t really get what that meant at first, but after some experimenting, I figured out that it could help me direct my quarterback when I decided to keep the ball. It made things a bit easier, but I still wasn’t consistent.
I also tried this “speed option” play that I heard some streamer talk about. It was in the Pistol Week Flex formation. I flipped the play to the left and tried to get the receiver involved. It was a total disaster the first few times, but then I started to get the hang of it. The defense was so confused that it actually worked a couple of times!
Here’s what I learned from all this:
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Watching the defense is key. You gotta pay attention to what that defensive end or linebacker is doing. They’re the ones who will determine whether you keep the ball or hand it off.
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Don’t be afraid to keep the ball. I used to be scared of running with the quarterback, but it can actually be pretty effective. Just make sure you’re making the right read!
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Practice makes perfect. This is not an easy play to master. It takes time and repetition to get it right. Don’t get discouraged if you mess up a lot at first. Keep practicing, and you’ll eventually get better.
I’m still not a pro at running the read option, but I definitely understand it a lot better now. And it’s way more fun to play when you have some idea of what you’re doing. This took me several days to figure out and get better at it, I think I’ve spent like 5 days just to practice this play!
So, if you’re struggling with this play, don’t give up! Just keep these tips in mind, and keep practicing. You’ll get there eventually. And hey, if I can do it, you can too!
