Make Ratings Matter: All American CPU 70s OVR vs Elite teams

Once again I want to make this known regarding CPU defensive difficulty on All-American in College Football 27, particularly in Online Dynasty.

I play in a 32-user Online Dynasty and recently played against San Diego State with a team rated 90+ overall, while San Diego State was around 66 overall. Despite the significant talent and ratings difference, their CPU-controlled defense consistently played at an elite level.

The issue isn’t simply that the CPU game was difficult. The bigger problem is that the difference in player ratings did not seem properly represented on the field. Lower-rated defensive backs were consistently staying attached to significantly higher-rated receivers, including on crossing routes and concepts designed to create separation. Deep routes, underneath routes, Mesh concepts, and other passing concepts were frequently covered extremely tightly. This eventually left running the football as one of the only consistently viable options.

I absolutely want All-American difficulty to provide a challenge. However, difficulty should come from better CPU playcalling, adjustments, situational awareness, and decision-making—not from making a significantly inferior roster perform like an elite defense.

Player ratings and roster-building need to matter. If I have a 90+ overall team playing against a team in the 60s, I should be able to identify and exploit favorable individual matchups. A lower-rated CB can occasionally make a great play, and an inferior team should still be capable of an upset, but lower-rated defenders should not consistently match the coverage ability, reaction, pursuit, and overall effectiveness of elite players simply because the game is being played on All-American.

Please consider reviewing CPU pass coverage, man coverage, reaction time, plaster behavior, and how difficulty modifiers interact with individual player ratings.

The goal isn’t to make All-American easier. The goal is to make ratings matter more.

A 90+ overall team should feel noticeably different from a 66 overall team while still allowing the CPU to provide a realistic challenge.