The Wildcats are a very intriguing team to build into a powerhouse.
With 136 teams available to play as in EA SPORTS College Football 26, the options to choose from for a dynasty league can look daunting. Let’s keep it simple. Northwestern has all the tools to become a go-to for gamers. Here are three reasons why the ‘Cats are a worthwhile rebuild team in the game.
Conference Prestige and Academic Prestige Recruiting Boost
Recruiting players in EACFB26 can be a tall task, especially when at a small school in a non-Power Conference. However, Northwestern has the luxury of being in the Big Ten thanks to being a founding member of the conference. For recruits in the game or for transfers during the transfer portal window, many players want schools with higher conference prestige. The Big Ten is one of the two main blue-blood conferences in college football (along with the SEC) which allows users to get players that maybe seemed more out of reach if they can use their recruiting hours wisely — even if Northwestern’s grades in other categories is less than stellar.
The other big seller for Northwestern in terms of recruiting boosts is the school’s academic prestige. Out of the 136 FBS teams, NU is one of the elite’s, boasting an A+ grade in that remark. While less players value this in the game compared to conference prestige, it’s still very helpful in swaying some players to Evanston.
Defensive Unit
Northwestern boasts a young defensive squad that is already pretty solid. Players like Josh Fussell, Robert Fitzgerald and Anto Saka (all at 82 OVR) still have the possibility of remaining with a Northwestern dynasty into the second and even third year, in the case of redshirt sophomore Fussell. Look for his overall to hit the low 90s by 2027. The defensive backs on this roster are well rounded, even without Fred Davis II being in the game. It also helps that Saka combined with Aidan Hubbard form a strong pass rush duo right away in year one. The defense could contribute to more year one wins than Northwestern’s low overall would suggest on paper, ultimately helping boost recruiting ratings for future seasons and helping shirk the horrors of a revamped EACFB 26 transfer portal.
Joseph Himon II
Despite Cam Porter being rated higher (87 OVR) at halfback compared to Joseph Himon II (82 OVR), speed is essential in football video games. Himon has a 92 speed rating, which makes him great to use in both the outside run game and the short passing game. As everything in dynasty mode falls back to the recruiting portion when doing a rebuild, using Himon in such ways could help attract players who value the “playing style” as a dealbreaker. Using fast, twitchy players is always fun and effective in games like these, so recruiting more players for the future similar to Himon can be a good path to take when starting out. Himon, a redshirt junior, is sure to provide two season of firepower out of the backfield. Use him right, and the Joseph Himon II legacy will long outlive Northwestern’s No. 6.