College Football 27 features over 9,000 player models — the largest roster in franchise history. But not all face scans are created equal. From broadcast-quality likenesses to generic templates that barely resemble the real athlete, the quality gap is stark.
The Gold Standard: Power 4 Stars
The best face scans in CFB 27 belong to players who already had 3D models created for broadcast partners or EA's own marketing campaigns:
- Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State, WR, 99 OVR): Near-perfect likeness. The 2x Big Ten WR of the Year looks exactly like his broadcast appearances. Every mole, every contour.
- Dante Moore (Oregon, QB, 96 OVR): Excellent scan with accurate jaw structure and eye spacing.
- Malachi Toney (Miami, WR, 96 OVR): Strong likeness with correct facial proportions.
- Colin Simmons (Texas, EDGE, 95 OVR): Good scan, though slightly younger-looking than reality.
The July 16 Title Update Improvements
EA's first Title Update included unannounced player likeness improvements. The most notable:
- Christopher Vizzina (Clemson, QB): Significantly improved from the launch version, which the community had mocked extensively.
- Several SEC and Big Ten starters received updated facial geometry.
The Worst Offenders
Group of 5 and FCS-adjacent programs got the short end of the scan pipeline. Common complaints:
- Generic template faces with only skin tone and hair variation
- Incorrect face shape (round vs. angular) for multiple Sun Belt players
- Missing distinctive features (scars, unique nose shapes, facial hair patterns)
Why the Disparity?
EA's face scan pipeline prioritizes players who already exist in 3D from broadcast partners (ESPN, Fox) or EA's own capture sessions. Power 4 programs with national TV deals get priority. Group of 5 players often only have 2D reference photos, which the pipeline converts to approximate 3D models.
PC Modding Solution
The PC modding community has already created custom face packs for the worst offenders. The CFB 27 mod manager on Steam supports face replacement, and Operation Sports hosts a growing library of community-created likenesses.
Last verified: July 19, 2026