When creating a playbook in College Football 25, the goal is not just to replicate popular "money plays" but to develop a system that fits your offensive philosophy and personnel. Just like recruiting, choosing the right plays requires strategic planning. This guide will help you build a cohesive playbook by breaking down runs, passes, and RPOs (Run-Pass Options). You'll also learn how to select complementary plays to create multiple looks from the same formations, keeping defenses on their heels.

Understanding the Playbook Components

Run Concepts: Power, zone, and option run.

Pass Concepts: Short, intermediate, and deep routes.

RPOs: The most dynamic aspect, allowing quick reads and decisions between run and pass.

Complementary Plays: Use multiple plays from the same formation to make your offense unpredictable.

This guide will focus on formations with shotguns and heavy sets. Each play will be rated based on its difficulty in execution (out of 5). I'll also mention key default playbooks containing these plays, though you may need to create a custom playbook to fully implement all suggestions.

Best Practices for RPOs in College Football 25

RPOs (Run-Pass Options) can be tricky because they require both pre- and post-snap reads. They are generally more effective against zone defenses because they give your QB the chance to exploit soft spots, but they can work against man coverage if used carefully. Here are a few key tips:

Pre-Snap Read: Check the number of defenders in the box. If the defense is light inside, lean towards the run.

R/P Key Defender: Use L2 to identify which defender you're reading post-snap. This is typically the edge defender or a linebacker.

Avoiding Mistakes Against Man Coverage: Stick to simpler reads if the defense is running heavy man-to-man schemes.

Highlighted RPO Plays

Shotgun - Duo Slot Open - RPO Read HB Flat

This is an exotic formation that aligns two running backs on the same side of the field. The outside running back immediately runs into the flat, creating a quick option for your QB. The play offers three key decisions:

1. Keep the ball with the QB and scramble.

2. Hand it off to the running back.

3. Pass to the flat if the defense crashes inside.

Best Use: Call this play multiple times to force the defense to choose between protecting the middle or covering the flats.

Complementary Plays: Pair this RPO with Sprintout Flood and PA Rollout to create variety in your offense. Plays with automatic rollouts (labeled Sprint or Sprintout) help your QB scramble efficiently, but beware of edge defenders—getting caught in a scramble can result in sacks.

Difficulty:3/5

Available Playbook: UNLV

Shotgun - East X Over - Exit RPO Read Bubble

This play features auto-motion with a receiver moving across the formation, providing an extra blocker if you throw to the bubble screen. You still have the standard read options to hand off or keep the ball with the QB, but the formation's overloaded side makes it more effective when running toward the wide side of the field.

Complementary Plays: Use PA Flood and Exit PA Fk Bubble from the same formation to disguise your intentions and keep defenses guessing.

Difficulty: 3/5

Available Playbook: Michigan

Shotgun - Y Off Trio Wk - RPO Read Y Flat

This play aligns three receivers on one side with the Y receiver running a quick route into the flat. This gives your QB a fast and easy read to make a decision between handing off, keeping the ball, or passing to the flat. This set is ideal for third-and-short situations or when you want to catch the defense in a zone look.

Complementary Plays: From this formation, use PA Crossers and Jet Sweeps to keep your opponent off-balance by mixing in passing, running, and misdirection plays.

Difficulty: 2/5

Available Playbook: Texas

Developing a Custom Playbook

To fully unlock your offense's potential, it's worth creating a custom playbook. This allows you to mix and match plays from different teams to build a more versatile system. Using the CFB.Fan database or downloading OpSportsPlaybook (PSN: ChucklesBiscotti) gives you a starting point for experimenting with different plays.

Additional Tips for Success

Master One or Two Core Formations: Rather than overloading your playbook, pick a couple of key formations you feel comfortable with and build around them. This allows you to develop rhythm and consistency.

Complementary Play Design: Choose plays that look similar but attack the defense in different ways. For example, pairing an inside zone run with a play-action pass from the same look keeps defenders guessing.

Adapt to Opponents: If a team struggles with defending the pass, lean on RPOs with more passing options. Conversely, if they can't stop the run, use read options or inside zones.

Practice Makes Perfect: RPOs and other timing-based plays require repetition. Make sure to practice these plays in different game situations so your team feels comfortable executing them.

Conclusion

Building the right playbook in College Football 25 isn't just about running the most popular "money plays"—it's about finding plays that suit your strategy and allow you to win games while efficiently farming CFB 25 Coins. With the right combination of RPOs, run concepts and complementary plays, you can dominate the field and hit coin-related objectives off it. Create a custom playbook that balances variety and consistency, and you'll find success in both gameplay and coin accumulation.