We're back with another gameplay breakdown in College Football 26, and today's spotlight is on the new OJ Howard card. This tight end has been generating serious hype in the community, especially because his maxed-out version is sitting around 4 million CFB 26 Coins. That's an outrageous price for a tight end-even one with elite abilities.

 

So instead of grabbing the full 4-million version, we tested the lower overall variant to see how he performs. The big question: does he play like a top-tier tight end, and is the max version actually worth that kind of investment?

 

Let's break it all down.

 

Card Overview: Size, Speed, and Movement

 

At 6'6", 251 pounds, OJ Howard brings ideal tight end size to the field. What really stands out, though, is the 96 speed rating. For a player at that height and weight, that's game-changing.

 

He also brings:

 

 Strong route running ratings

 80 run block

 91 change of direction

 

That 91 COD is sneaky important. It makes him surprisingly smooth when moving laterally, especially on drags, whip routes, playmaker adjustments, and quick cuts over the middle. He doesn't feel stiff like many tall tight ends do in this game.

 

From a raw physical standpoint, he absolutely looks like a top-end option.

 

Abilities Breakdown: Where the 4-Million Version Shines

The lower version still gets access to strong abilities:

 

 Gold Takeoff (7 AP)

 Gold Cutter (6 AP)

 

However, the maxed-out version reportedly gets:

 

 Gold Cutter for 4 AP

 Gold Takeoff for 6 AP

 

That AP discount is the real advantage. It lets you build around him more efficiently, especially if you're stacking ability-heavy skill players.

 

Stat-wise, the difference between the lower and max version is essentially plus or minus one across the board. So you're not paying for a massive stat jump-you're paying for ability flexibility.

 

That's important to understand.

 

Playbook Setup: Georgia Tech Offense

 

For this gameplay session, we ran the Georgia Tech offensive playbook. It's a scheme with some creative spacing concepts, inverted wheel routes, mesh setups, and unique tight end usage.

 

Georgia Tech has:

 

 Creative swing routes

 Strong mesh concepts

 Wheel routes that aren't traditional TE wheels

 Good RPO spacing

 

It ended up being a perfect testing ground for OJ Howard.

 

First Impressions In-Game

 

Right away, OJ Howard felt fluid.

 

On early possessions, he was working:

 

 Playmaker adjustments over the middle

 Quick hitches

 Short curls

 Seam routes

 

One thing that stood out immediately was how he handled space. With 91 change of direction, he doesn't lumber through cuts. He snaps into them. On playmaker drags, he responds quickly-which is critical in competitive play.

 

He also moves extremely well after the catch. There were multiple moments where a simple short completion turned into a chunk gain because he could hurdle or cut back inside.

 

He doesn't feel like a traditional tight end. He feels closer to a big receiver.

 

Red Zone Performance

 

In the red zone, size matters-and OJ Howard absolutely benefits from being 6'6".

 

Back shoulder throws? Reliable.

 

High balls? Competitive.

 

Quick hitches against soft coverage? Easy.

 

There were moments where he created separation against man coverage simply because of his acceleration and Takeoff ability. And when users overplayed him, it opened up outside receivers.

He forces defensive adjustments.

 

Route Concepts That Worked Best

 

Here's where he shined the most:

 

1. Mesh Concepts

 

Classic mesh with the tight end crossing underneath? Elite. His speed lets him beat linebackers, and his size helps against safeties.

 

2. Inverted Wheel Routes

 

Georgia Tech's inverted wheel concepts are nasty. OJ Howard was able to bend those routes vertically and stress deep zones.

 

3. Playmaker Adjustments

 

Because of his COD rating, manual playmaker movements were smooth. He didn't stutter or slow down unnaturally.

 

4. Seam Shots

 

Up the seam, he's a nightmare. Against Cover 3 or Cover 2, he consistently found space.

 

Run Blocking and Versatility

 

With 80 run block, he's not dominant in the trenches-but he's serviceable. Inside zone and stretch runs still function properly with him on the field.

 

He's not going to pancake elite edge defenders, but he won't be a liability either.

 

That balance makes him viable in both pass-heavy and balanced schemes.

 

Defensive Gameplay Notes

 

While the focus was on OJ Howard, the session included some intense defensive moments as well. Oregon defense was the setup, featuring aggressive pressure and user coverage adjustments.

 

Several games turned into back-and-forth shootouts, which actually gave Howard more chances to impact the game.

 

The volatility of College Football 26's gameplay-random sheds, pressure bursts, animation swings-made it even more important to have a reliable mismatch weapon. Howard often served as the "safety valve" option when pressure came through.The Frustration Factor

 

It wouldn't be a real gameplay session without some EA moments.

 

There were:

 

 Instant sheds from two-man rushes

 Underthrows on clean reads

 Strange animation outcomes

 Missed red zone opportunities

 

Through all of that, OJ Howard remained consistent. When the read was correct and the throw was on time, he delivered.

 

That's really what you want from a premium card.

 

Is He the Best Tight End in CFB 26?

 

Here's the honest answer:

 

The 4-million coin max version? Probably yes.

 

The lower overall version tested here? Still top-tier.

 

He moves differently. He separates better than most tight ends. And his combination of size + speed is rare.

 

However…

 

Is any tight end worth 4 million coins?

 

That's debatable.

 

Value Comparison: OJ Howard vs Kenyan Sadique

 

From a pure value standpoint, Kenyan Sadique offers:

 

 Strong performance

 Slight AP savings

 Much lower coin investment

 

If you're running a no-spend or budget-conscious squad, Sadique might be the smarter move.

 

If coins are no issue and you want the absolute best tight end in the game? The full OJ Howard is likely that guy.

 

It really comes down to team-building philosophy.

 

Competitive Viability

 

In high-level gameplay, tight ends are crucial for:

 

 Beating man coverage

 Exploiting seam zones

 Providing a hot read vs blitz

 Creating mismatch height advantages

 

OJ Howard checks all those boxes.

 

His speed alone changes how opponents defend you. Users can't lazily sit on crossing routes when a 6'6" tight end with 96 speed is streaking up the seam.

 

He demands respect.

 

Final Thoughts

 

After multiple games of testing, here's the verdict:

 

 Elite size and speed combination

 Smooth lateral movement

 Strong ability options

 Excellent red zone threat

 More NCAA 26 Coins

 Reliable in mesh and seam concepts

 

The lower version performs extremely well and proves that the card archetype itself is top-tier.

 

Would I personally spend 4 million coins on the max version?

Probably not.

 

But if you want the best tight end in College Football 26 and coins aren't a concern, OJ Howard is absolutely that guy.

 

For value players, there are alternatives that perform 90-95% as well for a fraction of the cost. For meta chasers and comp grinders, the fully powered OJ Howard might be the ultimate weapon.