College Football 27 - Sights and Sounds Deep Dive

BREAKDOWN

• More Like Saturday
• Sights & Sounds: Making the Whole Day Feel Bigger
• Pageantry: The Traditions That Give Every School Its Pulse
• More Traditions, More Mascots, More School Identity
• It’s the Details
• Rivalries Are Different
• Never Miss a Moment in RTG
• Ryan Field is Here! 
• Celebrating the Best of the Best
• New Gear on the Way! 
• A New Broadcast Package
• Visuals Help Tell a Story
• New Voices, More Texture
• Dynamic Weather: Letting the Game Change on You
• Music Makes You Lose Control
• Customize Your Crowds
• More Like Saturday

Hey there College Football fans, welcome back to the next edition of the Campus Huddle, your source for all news and information straight from our development team! We know that there is a lot going on today, so sit back, relax, and enjoy what we have ready for your eyes and ears in EA Sports College Football 27. Similar to last year, let’s welcome back Design Director Christian Brandt! 

MORE LIKE SATURDAY

Hey everyone, Christian Brandt again, back to tell you everything about what is coming this year. The team and I are so excited to step you through our major additions to College Football 27. As we like to say, Every Team is someone's Favorite Team and we take that to heart. Team by team we are ensuring new updates are made to authentically represent every single school across visuals and audio - the runouts, the chants, the uniforms, student sections, fight songs, and soooooo much more!

College football does not start at kickoff.

It starts earlier than that. It starts with the band, the walkout, the mascots on the sideline, and the crowd building from a background hum into something that feels heavy. The traditions and pageantry are what make College Football a sport that we love to watch and enjoy.

That idea guided a lot of our work this year on EA SPORTS College Football 27.

More like Saturday is always a guiding north star. It’s a lens to view and it pushes us to think about presentation, atmosphere, school identity, and the flow of the game as one connected experience. We want every matchup to feel more grounded in what makes college football special: the traditions, the sound, the momentum, the weather effects, the fans, the rivalries, and the feeling that every school brings something different with it.

This year, that meant making meaningful updates across three areas that sit at the heart of game day:

• Authenticity - Pageantry, Fandom, and Traditions
• Sights & Sounds  - Storytelling
• Customization - Crowd Themes, Cameras, and Team Builder Major Expansions

These features all serve the same goal. We want the game to feel more alive, more team specific, and more unmistakably college football.

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SIGHTS & SOUNDS: MAKING THE WHOLE DAY FEEL BIGGER

One thing we talked about a lot during development was that immersion is rarely about one giant feature, it comes from layers. A better camera cut. A smarter commentary line. Rain that picks up throughout the game. A sideline that feels busy and energetic. Crowd audio that reacts the way you expect it to. We want you to feel as if you were at Beaver Stadium with your friends and classmates, celebrating the White Out.

When all of those layers are working together, the College football experience hits.

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PAGEANTRY: THE TRADITIONS THAT GIVE EVERY SCHOOL ITS PULSE

Pageantry and fandom is what gives each school their individual personality.

College football is not just about the teams on the field. It is also about the traditions, passion, and fandom around them. The entrances, the mascots, the lights, sounds, student sections chanting, band formations entertaining, the rivalry rituals, and so much more… Every school has its own way of doing things.

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MORE TRADITIONS, MORE MASCOTS, MORE SCHOOL IDENTITY

This year, we expanded pageantry with additions across several areas:

• New Traditions
• New Mascots
• New Light Shows
• New Drone Shows
• New Chants
• New Rivalry Trophies
• Atmosphere moments that better represent the schools.

LET’S WALK THROUGH A FEW TRADITIONS FOR A SNEAK PEAK:

Oregon Duck Pushups, but in the SKY!

VANDERBILT DROP THE ANCHOR

I always love to see what new traditions are created by teams each year, specifically sideline turnover traditions, and yes, we have them!

BOISE STATE SKULLS

VANDERBILT’S GUITAR SOLO

MISSOURI STATE BELT!

FIU - 305!

EASTERN MICHIGAN!

THE BAYLOR LINE!

Student sections help run the show and set the tone for the atmosphere of the whole game. We know this as Home Field Advantage!

This year we have added 30+ authentic student section banners that can be seen pre game or after touchdowns.

AND OVER 90 NEW AND REVAMPED TEAM CHANTS ADDED!

A couple new fan favorites around the studio include: 

• Cal "Bear Territory" chant
• Colorado State "C-S-U-Rams" chant
• Florida "It's great to be a Florida Gator" chant
• Georgia State "G-S-U" chant
• Kennesaw State "Hoooooty Hoo" kickoff chant

NEW MASCOTS

We also have 35+ new Mascots coming for you to enjoy for the World Wide launch with more on the way in future Title Updates, stay tuned for a future Campus Huddle to know when new Mascots will arrive and who will be joining the field.

That work matters because these are not background details in college football. They are part of how fans recognize a program instantly. They are part of how a school announces itself. When you load into a game, you should be able to feel that identity before the first drive begins.

The traditions flow to the Main Menu as well. Check out the awesome new menu system that is visually catered to Every Team - Here is Clemson’s Howard’s Rock.

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IT’S THE DETAILS

Getting even the smaller traditions and authenticity details is very important to us.

• Headsets on the coaches when they are standing on the sideline
• New Coach models
• Over 55 schools have updated runout pyros
• 32 schools have new “runout band tunnels” - the formations in which the band stand when the players runout between them lined up
• Runout Props
• New Crowd excitement animations
• New crowd striped bibs and Tennessee checkerboard bibs
• New Cheer sideline animations
• Team specific custom back plates
• More band formations
• New stadium beauty cameras
• More Crowd Themes added

GUESS WHO?

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RIVALRIES ARE DIFFERENT

Not every game should carry the same energy. Rivalry games should feel heavier. The whole day should carry a little more tension. That was the mindset behind our rivalry enhancements in College Football 27.

When you are in one of those big time games, the feeling and presentation you experience should acknowledge it. More “chippy” animations, commentary stories, and rival trophies added for those big games.

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NEVER MISS A MOMENT IN RTG

A really great improvement to Road to Glory this year is the new presentation style that allows you to watch the game from the sideline while you are waiting to get in. For example, you are the starting QB for Tennessee. You first start in the runout tunnel from the perspective of the player.  Runout onto the field experiencing all the pageantry, traditions, and fandom all around you! Once the runout is complete, you are on the sideline until you are put into the game. Watch your defense make the stop. You have controls where you can move the camera and zoom into the action. No more walking off the field and not knowing what’s going on. If you make that big end of game drive to get into FG range for the win, now you run over to the sidelines, watch your kicker make the game winner, then celebrate the night away!

TEAM UPGRADES

We have Some brand new stadiums in the game this year

• Northwestern
• Gillette Stadium

We can't wait for you to see all of the stadium improvements this year, you might want to go check out some of these schools

• Eastern Michigan
• Missouri 
• Memphis 
• Boise State 
• Army 
• And more!

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RYAN FIELD IS HERE!

We have a treat for you Northwestern Fans! To get you ready for the season, Ryan Field will be available for you to experience before Penn State takes on Northwestern in October! 

STADIUM BREAKDOWN

• Location: Evanston, IL
• Capacity: 35,000

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CELEBRATING THE BEST OF THE BEST

This year we have added one of the most asked about presentation elements into the game… The Heisman Trophy Ceremony!

The top 4 players of the season will make their way into the ceremony in anticipation of being called out as the Heisman Trophy winner by the iconic Chris Fowler. The ceremony is not only in Dynasty but also in Road to Glory so YOU can also win the Heisman trophy for yourself!

And with that, we wanted to dive deeper into the equipment selections and options you have when you are either customizing your team or personal athlete! Take it away, Equipment Guru! 

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NEW GEAR ON THE WAY!

We have added a lot of new gear and updates to existing gear that you have been asking for, to name a few, hanging mouthpieces, Team Logos on Towels, Smaller shoulder pads, New Rolled up jersey and undershirts, Clear Reflective Visors, Waist worn Playcall sheets, new Captains Patches, and much more!

Our aim is to continue to bring more of these items to College Football to give you a more authentic feel on the field.

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A NEW BROADCAST PACKAGE

To kick things off, for this year, we built an all new broadcast package for College Football 27.

The goal was to simply not refresh the look of the game. We wanted the presentation to do a better job carrying the energy and story of a college football Saturday. That meant new visual packaging, new ways to frame players and teams, and better support for the moments that give a game texture.

You will see that this year in a few different ways:

• New broadcast visuals, banners, and presentation elements including new player action shots and coach information playcall panels.
• Improved story driven overlays including halftime Around the Country and 3rd to 4th Quarter transitions
• New pacing and framing across the game broadcast.
• Better support for in game context and narrative follow up.
• More visual variety in how key moments are presented.

We also spent time improving how games build a sense of progression. A big early drive, a dynamic weather shift, a hot player, a momentum swing, a rivalry game that starts to tighten up in the second half. Those moments now have more support  so the game feels like it is tracking the story with you instead of just showing the next play.

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VISUALS HELP TELL A STORY

We added more ways for the game to build and revisit storylines over the course of a matchup.

That includes systems like:

• Drive starters that help set up storylines to watch. - Such as comparing QB’s, RB’s or even a WR vs CB matchup.
• Picture in picture information panels that support commentary beats.
• Narrative callbacks later in the game.
• Halftime around the country updates and gameday updates that help reinforce what has mattered so far.
• Fourth quarter presentation moments that bring earlier storylines back into focus.

When something important happens in the first quarter, it should not vanish the moment the next drive begins. If a player is becoming the story of the game, if conditions are getting worse, or if one side has started to take control, the presentation should help carry that thread.

An all new halftime flow has also been added to the game this year. Kevin Connors will provide in-game updates about big games of the day (In-Progress / Final) and ones that matter to you.

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NEW VOICES, MORE TEXTURE

We also made meaningful changes to the broadcast team this year.

HOLLY ROWE JOINS AS SIDELINE REPORTER

We are excited to welcome ESPN’s very own Holly Rowe as the sideline reporter in College Football 27.

Adding sideline reporting gave us another way to make the broadcast feel more complete and more true to the shape of a real college football telecast. It opens the door for game updates and observations that do not always fit naturally into booth commentary, while also helping important developments land with a little more weight.

That includes updates tied to:

• Injuries
• Changing weather
• Player Performance
• Game flow and Momentum

It adds another layer of information, but just as importantly, it adds another layer of presence. College football broadcasts feel fuller when there is someone down on the field helping connect the action to what is happening around it.

JOEL KLATT JOINS THE BROADCAST TEAM

You know him from the Big Noon Saturday games! We are bringing in Colorado Buffaloes alum Joel Klatt from Fox Sports into the booth for College Football 27.

Joel joins Chris Fowler in the booth to enhance the Playoff atmosphere like never before! We are loving the energy and stories they have brought to the game!

Joel brings a strong point of view and a voice that fits the college game. His addition helps broaden the feel of the broadcast and gives us more ways to make commentary feel grounded in the sport’s tone and rhythm.

COMMENTARY THAT PAYS ATTENTION

A lot of commentary work this year came down to one idea: the booth should feel more aware of what kind of game you are in.

That meant improving contextual awareness and creating stronger links between commentary and the presentation systems around it. We wanted lines to feel more connected to the state of the game, the players involved, and the stories that have already been established.

You will hear that in the way the game handles:

• Context aware commentary.
• Seasonal performance awareness
• Refreshed team specific Banter Storylines
• Follow up references later in the game.
• Tighter alignment between visuals and commentary.
• Stronger player and team storylines.

It is not about forcing more lines into every moment. It is about making the right moments feel noticed.

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DYNAMIC WEATHER: LETTING THE GAME CHANGE ON YOU

Weather is one of those things that can completely change the mood of a college football game.

A light rain in the first quarter can turn into a miserable fourth quarter. Snow can pile up. The field can start to look worn down. The crowd feels different. Play starts to feel different too. Those shifts are part of what makes the sport memorable, so we wanted the weather in College Football 27 to feel more dynamic and more visible.

WEATHER EVOLVES THROUGHOUT THE GAME

In CFB27, weather can now change as the game unfolds.

That includes:

• Rain and snow intensifying over time
• Conditions evolving play by play
• Stronger visual representation of precipitation
• A more noticeable effect on the overall feel of the game
  • Gameplay effects changing as weather changes, slips, harder to catch balls, ball security, and the kicking game become more challenging

We also spent time improving visual quality so weather is more present on the field and in the broadcast frame. Make sure you check out the Gameplay Deep Dive to learn more about how Dynamic Weather will impact your on field performance!

VISUAL IMPACT AND FIELD WEAR

Weather should not just exist in the background. It should leave a mark.

This year’s work includes:

• Dynamic rain and snow intensity tied to precipitation.
• Stronger visual game impacts.
• Enhanced player visual uniform degradation.
• New field degradation works as part of our broader atmosphere goals.

We wanted late game conditions to feel earned. If you are deep into a messy, physical game, the field and players should look like they have been in one.

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MUSIC MAKES YOU LOSE CONTROL

College football has a unique sound, unlike any other. 

It is the band cutting through a timeout. It is the crowd going from scattered noise to one wall of sound. It is the home atmosphere taking over when momentum flips. Those audio cues are part of the identity of the sport, and we wanted that to come through more strongly in College Football 27.

We heard your amazing response to our pop covers from last year and this year, we’re back with more. 19 new pop covers will be part of your soundtrack this season as we continue to provide the game with more of that college football character from the moment you boot it up. 

Here are the 19 new pop song covers we recorded in Nashville for CFB '27;

1. Rehab 
2. Appetite 
3. 24k Magic 
4. Right Above It 
5. APT. 
6. I Write Sins Not Tragedies 
7. Levitating 
8. Back in the Saddle 
9. Day N Nite 
10. Don't Start Now 
11. Dynamite 
12. Love Somebody 
13. Pink Pony Club 
14. Shape of You 
15. Take On Me 
16. The Next Episode 
17. T**p Queen 
18. Since You've Been Gone 
19. Tears 

In addition to our new pop covers, we’ve collaborated with The Carolina Band, from The University of South Carolina, the winners of this past year’s Metallica Marching Band Competition “For Whom the Band Tolls” to update our Campus Clash theme that you hear on Press Start and add “Sad But True” to our menus as well. 

Also, we have some special surprises for you. Make sure you give the marching band a listen during key moments in-game and in our menus for some new and unique recorded themes. Some of them may seem familiar to you - Listen for those trumpets!

And Don’t worry… all the heart pounding get pumped up tracks are back! Crowd favorites such as - “Zombie Nation”, “Seven Nation Army”, “Swag Surfin’”, ”Sandstorm”, Team Fight Songs, and many more!

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CUSTOMIZE YOUR CROWDS

CROWD PLEASERS

We also continued building out crowd atmosphere with improvements to:

• Crowd density
• Crowd presence
• Overall stadium energy
• How the game feels from different presentation angles

And for players who like to tune the presentation experience more directly, College Football 27 includes user-selectable crowd themes and camera angles, giving you more control over how game day comes across on screen.

Customize the game the way you want it. Do you want to have a White Out at Penn State every game, then DO IT! Or maybe even turn on the Pink “S Zone” in the student section this year. Maybe you want to have a Black Out at Oregon and put on the black uniforms, or maybe a classic stripe out at Iowa all Yellow and Black. It’s all up to you now! Set your Crowd Theme before loading in a game whether it's Play Now, Dynasty, or RTG.

Another way to Customize your Own Presentation experience is with the all new Modular Cameras Setting. You can make your own gameplay camera package with over 16 options. Want to change your Pre-Play cameras, your dropback snap camera, or into your handoff or Pass in the air? Now you can in the options menu. Make sure to then set your Offense and Defense Camera Preset to “Modular” for them to take effect in game.

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MORE LIKE SATURDAY

CB Here, before we go I wanted to talk to you one more time. When we say More Like Saturday, we are talking about the full experience.

We are talking about the broadcast feeling more connected. The weather changes as the game goes on more realistic. The sideline is more energetic. The commentary is paying more attention. The band and crowd carry more personality. Rivalries feeling sharper and chippy. Traditions and Pageantry all around.

That is what tied all of this work together for us. College football stands out because it is not just a sport. It is a place, a ritual, a noise, a mood. It is what happens before kickoff, what builds during the game, and what lingers after it ends. Thank you all for your feedback and we can't wait to see your experience and hear your thoughts this year! See you all on the field! 

It’s time to welcome Mo Bamba back into your lives! Or maybe some Timmy Trumpet too!?!?!?! We Are! 

— Christian Brandt and the College Football Presentation Team

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