College Football 26 Wear and Tear Sliders Guide

College Football 26 Wear and Tear Sliders Guide

Written by Michael Owen

Wear and Tear in College Football 26 is a real game-changer, especially if you're running a long Dynasty. If you're seeing half your roster drop like flies mid-season, your slider settings might be the problem.

Here’s how the system works, and what to do with the sliders to keep gameplay realistic but not frustrating.

What Wear and Tear Actually Does

The Wear and Tear setting controls how quickly your players get fatigued, banged up, or injured over time.

It's not just game-to-game fatigue. This system tracks how much physical stress each player takes based on hits, snaps played, and position.

A running back getting tackled 20 times a game? He’ll feel it.

A lineman pancaked 60 plays in a row? He’ll feel it too.

The Default Setting: 50

Leaving this on ~50 might sound balanced, but in practice, it's a mess.

You’ll get constant minor injuries, lowered stamina, and key players randomly becoming liabilities halfway through the season.

At 50, even light workloads build up. That’s not fun if you want to build a consistent program over several years.

The Recommended Setting: 40

Setting Wear and Tear to 30-40 is the current sweet spot.

It keeps the realism of injuries and player fatigue without ruining your depth chart every other game.

You’ll still see players wear down after long drives or heavy workloads, but it won’t cripple your offense in Week 8.

Perfect for Dynasty Mode, especially if you play on All-American difficulty or higher.

Turning It Off Completely

If you just want clean gameplay and no random breakdowns, set Wear and Tear to 0.

This is great for players who care more about strategy than immersion. You won’t have to rotate backups or manage fatigue, but you'll lose that extra layer of challenge.

Still, it makes sense if you're mainly playing Play Now or just want a smoother career with your custom player.

Bonus Settings to Pair With It

If you lower or turn off Wear and Tear, make sure these also line up:

  • Injuries: Lower this to around 30 to match reduced wear effects.

  • Fatigue: Keep this around 80 to preserve realism without constant substitutions.

  • Quarter Length: Stick to 11ish minutes with an accelerated clock if you want realistic snap counts, which tie into long-term fatigue.

These settings work well together to give you a balanced game across all positions.

Final Blurb

College Football 26’s Wear and Tear slider might seem like a background setting, but it has a major impact on how your season plays out. Keep it at 40 for balance, or turn it off if you're tired of micromanaging bruised knees and phantom fatigue. Either way, adjusting it properly will save you a lot of headaches down the stretch.

FAQ

Q: What does the Wear and Tear slider control?

It affects how quickly players get tired or injured across games.

Q: What’s the best Wear and Tear setting?

Set it to 40 for balanced gameplay without constant injuries.

Q: Should I turn Wear and Tear off?

Only if you want smoother gameplay and less micromanagement.

Q: Does Wear and Tear affect every mode?

Yes, but it matters most in Dynasty where long-term health impacts performance.

Q: What other sliders go with Wear and Tear?

Set Injuries to 30 and Fatigue to 85 for best results.


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