Despite the Air Raid's reputation for CUT 26 Coins short passes, Mike Leach's philosophy always included attacking deep when the opportunity presented itself. Smash out of Empty Trey Flex is one of the best vertical shots in CFB 26.

Against Cover 3, motioning and route adjustments allow a seam fade to get behind deep blues for walk-in touchdowns. Against two-high and match coverages, option routes, and corner combinations stress safeties and force late reactions. If defenses take away the deep shot, the drag and hitch routes give you reliable checkdowns to keep the chains moving.

This play ensures the defense can never sit comfortably in coverage.

Y Cross: The Air Raid Staple

No Air Raid offense is complete without Y Cross, and it remains one of the most reliable concepts ever created. The deep crosser works behind linebackers, while the post sit route punishes zone coverage by settling into soft spots.

Quick adjustments like whip routes and running back swings add flexibility, giving you answers against blitzes and coverage rotations. Whether it's man, zone, or pressure, Y Cross gives you a solution.

Final Thoughts

Mike Leach built his offense on simplicity, repetition, and mastery. In 2008, that philosophy produced over 5,000 passing yards and one of the most explosive offenses college football has ever seen. In College Football 26, the same principles still dominate.

This Texas Tech Air Raid isn't just powerful-it's unstoppable when executed correctly. Master these core concepts, trust the reads, and let the defense break itself trying to stop you. Having enough cheap CUT 26 Coins can be very helpful.

6 Proven Ways to Develop Players Faster in CFB 26
Player progression in College Football 26 is completely different from previous titles, and many dynasty players are unknowingly holding their teams back. The systems that worked in CFB 25 no longer deliver the same results, and if you're still relying on old habits, you're probably falling behind programs that consistently develop elite talent. Having enough CUT 26 Coins can also be very helpful.

After weeks of testing, these six strategies have proven to be the most effective ways to accelerate player growth, maximize skill point gains, and keep your roster competitive year after year. Master these tips, and you'll see a noticeable difference in both on-field performance and long-term dynasty success.

1. Fix the Manual Progression Penalty Bug

This is the single most important fix you can make. In CFB 26, there's a major issue with the manual progression penalty setting that can completely block in-season XP gains. If your manual progression penalty is set above 0%, your players may not earn in-season skill points at all.

To ensure proper XP gains, set the manual progression penalty to 0%. If you're in an online dynasty where you can't change the setting, you still have options. You can either leave auto progression on during the regular season, then switch back to manual in the offseason, or toggle auto progression on before each game and off afterward. This allows XP to register while still giving you control over how points are spent later.

Ignoring this setting can quietly sabotage an entire season of development.

2. Prioritize Development Traits Over Star Ratings

Recruiting in CFB 26 isn't just about star ratings anymore. Development traits matter more than ever, and the difference between them is massive. Testing shows that players with elite development traits earn nearly three times more offseason skill points than players with normal development.

Elite development players average over 70 skill points per offseason, while normal development players sit closer to the mid-20s. That means a three-star recruit with elite development can surpass a five-star normal development player within two seasons.

3. Recruit Speed and Power First

Not all attributes cost the same to upgrade. Speed and power attributes are by far the most expensive, while skills like route running, coverage, or blocking are relatively cheap.

Your recruiting strategy should reflect this. Target players who already have high speed or power and use progression to develop the cheaper attributes later. For example, a defensive tackle with 90+ strength can quickly become elite with affordable upgrades to block shedding. A fast cornerback can be taught coverage skills over time, but speed is much harder to manufacture.

This applies across positions. Quarterbacks benefit from high throw power, running backs from cheap CFB 26 Coins power attributes like trucking, and edge rushers from strength and speed. Recruit expensive traits-develop everything else.