Okay, here’s my blog post about rebuilding teams in NCAA 25. I’m going to share my experience, just like that example you showed me.
So, I’ve been hyped for NCAA 25, like everyone else, and I’ve spent way too much time thinking about which team I’m gonna rebuild first. It’s a tough decision, you know? There are so many bad teams out there, just begging for a turnaround.
First, I fired up the old NCAA 14, you know, just to get a feel for things. I started browsing through the teams, checking out their rosters, their recent records… it’s a lot to take in. I wanted a real challenge, a team that was truly down in the dumps.
I mean, I did a good search on the internet and found some candidates. UMass jumped out at me. Man, they’ve been struggling for years. It looked like a perfect opportunity to build something from the ground up. Then there was UTEP. These guys were in a similar spot, a program that’s just been lost in the wilderness for a while. New Mexico State is also interesting. They are not a big name but I think it is fun to try.
After going back and forth, and then flipping a coin, I landed on UTEP. It felt right. A program with a lot of history, but they’d fallen on hard times. Plus, playing in that Texas recruiting hotbed? That’s a huge plus. You’ve got all these talented high school kids right in your backyard.
Recruiting Strategy
I immediately started thinking about my recruiting strategy. I knew I couldn’t just go after five-star recruits right away. I had to be smart, find those under-the-radar guys, the diamonds in the rough. I spent hours looking at two and three-star recruits, trying to find players who fit my system and had the potential to develop.
- Focus on the trenches: I knew I needed to build a strong offensive and defensive line. Those guys are the foundation of any successful team.
- Find a QB: You gotta have a guy who can make plays under center. I looked for quarterbacks with good accuracy and decision-making, even if they weren’t the most athletic.
- Speed, speed, speed: On defense, I wanted guys who could fly around the field. Speed kills, especially in college football.
I spent so long playing NCAA 14 and thinking about the strategy that I’m not sure when the NCAA 25 will be released. But I am well-prepared. Building a program from scratch is a grind. It takes time, patience, and a whole lot of luck. But that’s what makes it so rewarding. When you finally start to see those wins pile up, when you see your team competing with the big boys, it’s an amazing feeling. You can think that you are the one who brings the glory back.
I’m ready for the challenge. I’m ready to take UTEP back to the promised land. Or maybe I’ll try UMass, or New Mexico State after. We’ll see. It’s gonna be a wild ride, and I can’t wait to get started.
