Once your player is ready,the high school journey begins — and this phase is crucial if you're aiming for CUT 26 Coins five-star status.
Weekly Progress Tracking

Each week,you'll get an update showing your recruit ranking on state,national,and positional levels. A five-star progress bar helps you track how close you are to elite status.
Initial Interview with Alice Zimmer

You'll be interviewed by a local reporter who asks about your values and college goals. Your answers affect how certain schools view your character and fit,narrowing down your potential college list.
Top 10 School Selection

Your high school coach will walk you through selecting your top 10 preferred colleges. These selections aren't permanent — you can update them or commit/decommit as the season unfolds.

Key attributes to evaluate when choosing schools include:

Assessed Tape Score – The points you need to earn from in-game performance to get noticed

Projected Role – Starter,backup,or bench

Coach Prestige – Rated from F to A+

NIL Potential – Indicates potential endorsement earnings

Offensive/Defensive Scheme – Useful for fitting your style of play (e.g.,pass-heavy or run-first)

Keep an eye on a school's performance. A struggling powerhouse might offer early playing time,while a dominant team may be loaded with returning talent.

Coach Messages and Recruiting Pitches

Coaches from your top choices will reach out during the season to pitch their program,let you know where you stand,and update you on scouting visits. Their tone changes based on your performance — do well,and you're on their radar; struggle,and you might drop off their list entirely.

Performing in Key Game Moments

Unlike traditional gameplay,you won't play full high school games. Instead,you'll choose four moments per game to complete. Each moment has specific drive goals and contributes to your Tape Score — the main metric for recruiting evaluations.

Sample Moment: "Option Merchant" (QB)

Goal 1: Gain 10+ yards on an option play = 200 points

Goal 2: Avoid being tackled for a loss or fumbling = 50 points

Bonus: Certain schools (e.g.,Oregon,Texas) offer multipliers on these moments

Failing to complete moments consistently can cost you a star rating,but you can retry failed moments immediately to avoid setbacks. Staying at a five-star level requires high success rates and smart moment selections that align with your strengths.

Navigating the Social and Academic Side

Throughout the high school season,you'll face decisions outside of football that influence your player's story and recruitability. For example:

Studying for an exam with a classmate may improve your focus in games

Choosing whether to attend homecoming could affect the coach's perceptions

These small choices shape your player's overall profile and affect how schools evaluate you beyond on-field stats.

Step 5: Signing Day and Commitment Ceremony

As the season wraps up,you'll narrow your list down to three final schools. Then comes the big moment — the commitment ceremony.

Your player will pick from three hats,and you even have the chance to buy CUT 26 Coins pull a fake-out before making the official selection. The school you choose becomes your next stop,and your college career begins.