Every College Football 25 Defense Playbook, Ranked

In football, the coach’s playbook determines how the team lines up, what each player prioritizes, and whether they focus primarily on attacking or defending. In College Football 25, defending is quite challenging, and understanding the defensive playbooks is a great way to improve your defending ability in the game. A good defensive approach is always helpful, especially if you’re trying to keep a slim lead and stop your opponents from getting more points. Here are the best defensive playbooks in College Football 25 to get you started.

Ranking Every College Football 25 Defensive Playbook

Standard 3-3-5 

The standard 3-3-5 is a slightly less refined version of the 3-3-5 Tite. It has all the right things going for it, albeit not as impressive as the “tite” version. Seventeen teams use the playbook as it provides an all-around solid scheme. This playbook is best suited for combatting pass-heavy offenses by keeping five defensive backs on the field. Ultimately, it is an excellent formation for defending against running and passing games, all while disguising coverages and blitzes.

Best Formations in this Playbook

• 3-3-5 Will: This formation utilizes an extra defensive back for coverage while keeping a strong presence against the run. It is excellent for countering spread offenses and RPO-heavy teams.
• 3-3-5 Stack: The Stack provides balanced coverage with disguised blitzes and flexibility. LBs align directly behind the DL, making shifting between run-stopping and pass coverage easier.
• Nickel 3-3-5: This variation mixes nickel coverage with the 3-3-5 base, keeping a strong run defense while adding extra speed in coverage.

Best Player Archetypes For This Formation

Linebackers (LBs): For your Middle Linebacker, a Field General or Run Stopper is needed to lead the defense, stop the run, and handle short coverage responsibilities. Your Outside Linebacker should be a Pass-Coverage or Hybrid OLB and have the speed and coverage ability to cover TEs and slot receivers.

Defensive Backs (DBs):

• CB1 (Top Cornerback): You need an elite Man-to-Man CB to lock down the opponent’s best WR.
• CB2 (Secondary Corner): A Balanced or Zone CB is best for covering intermediate routes.
• Nickel CB: A Slot Corner or Hybrid DB with pace and tackling ability is needed to cover slot WRs and blitz.
• FS (Free Safety): A Zone Coverage or Hybrid Safety is needed to play deep coverage and support against the pass.
• SS (Strong Safety): This position should be occupied by a Hybrid or Run Support Safety who can tackle, blitz, and play in the box against the run.

4-3 Playbook

The 4-3 defensive playbook resembles its “multiple” version. The formations in this playbook are best used for gap control. When you line up with this playbook, you can control all the gaps in the scrimmage, which prevents runs or easy passes. The playbook is reasonably practical, albeit mildly situational. You will see the most success if you run this playbook against offenses that utilize intense running games. With three linebackers and four down linemen, you have a big front seven that bosses the line of scrimmage and covers any running lanes.

Best Formations in this Playbook

• 4-3 Over: This formation shifts the defensive line toward the offense’s strong side, helping stop power runs and play-action passes.
• Nickel 4-2-5: Lining up like this substitutes a linebacker for an extra defensive back, making it great against spread offenses while keeping a strong presence against the run.
• Dime 4-1-6: This formation uses six defensive backs for maximum pass coverage. It is best suited for third-and-long situations and defending against pass-heavy offenses.

Best Player Archetypes For This Formation

• Defensive Linemen (DL): Your Defensive Ends (DEs) must be speed rushers as they are best for pressuring the QB off the edge, while your Power-Rushers help collapse the pocket and stop the run. Your Defensive Tackle (DT) should be a run-stopper DT who can clog running lanes, while a power rusher DT creates interior pressure.
• Linebacker: You need a versatile middle linebacker who offers excellent defending on the run, can drop into coverage, and blitzes when necessary. A player like this will give you room for creativity and unpredictability during play calls. Your outside linebackers must be Great at defending TEs, RBs, and slot receivers. This is especially crucial in zone-heavy defenses and spread offense matchups.
• Defensive Backs: Your top CB must effectively play both man and zone coverage, offering your team more versatility during play calls. Your secondary should be a zone CB who reacts well to passes and provides solid run support.

3-4 Playbook

What makes the 3-4 defensive playbook special is how the players line up in the formations. Having big defensive linemen absorb the pressure of most of the blockers frees up your faster and more elusive players, who can then rush the opposing quarterback and block passing lanes. There are ways to counter this setup. Still, this is a great formation and playbook to defend against most offensive plays. The 3-4 playbook is great at pass blockage and run defense.

Best Formations in this Playbook

• 3-4 Over: This formation shifts the defensive front toward the strong side, improving run defense against power formations.
• Under: Lining up like this moves the front toward the weak side, allowing the linebackers to make more plays in space.
• 3-4 Odd: The odd is the most traditional 3-4 setup, keeping the NT in the middle while disguising blitzes.

Best Player Archetypes

• Defensive Lineman: Your defensive end should be a power rusher who can collapse the pocket and pressure the QB on pass plays. You can also line up with a run-stopper who can hold the edge and free up linebackers.
• Middle Linebacker: A field general MLB is perfect for this playbook. You need a player who can read the play and make real-time adjustments.
• Outside Linebacker: Your OLB must be a power rusher who can set the edge and push the pocket back for this playbook.

3-4 Multiple Playbook

The 3-4 Multiple offers much of what the base 3-4 playbook offers but with a few extra twists. The most significant difference that makes the multiple better is its flexibility compared to the base 3-4 playbook. With the 3-4 multiple, you could see teams using additional linemen or linebackers while maintaining the core structure of the 3-4 formation. These changes force players to rotate from their natural roles and fulfill whatever role the play may call for. Similar to the standard 3-4, this formation is great against pass-heavy teams.

Best Formations in this Playbook

• 3-4 Solid: This setup stresses interior gap control, making it more challenging to run against.
• 3-4 Bear: This is a more aggressive front formation. It puts extra pressure on the offensive line and limits inside runs.
• Psycho 3-3: This interestingly named formation uses multiple standing rushers to disguise where the pressure is coming from.

Best Player Archetypes

• Defensive Line: For your DE, you need a run stopper who can hold the edge, take on blockers, and free up your linebackers.
• Middle Linebacker: Your MLB should be a do-it-all linebacker who can drop into coverage, stop the run, and occasionally blitz.
• Top Cornerback: For this playbook, you need a man-to-man CB who is capable of elite press coverage, disrupting routes, and sticking to the opposing wide receiver.

4-3 Multiple Playbook

Only four teams use this playbook in the game, making it one of the most exclusive playbooks available in CFB 25. What sets this playbook apart from the others is the formation, which allows you to line up in a way that frees up six potential blitzes in the line of scrimmage. With that many blitzes, the odds of knocking the Quarterback off his game and causing messed-up plays or sacking him altogether significantly increase, improving your defensive play. The 4-3 multiple is great against run-focused offenses and has mild success against modern passing attacks.

Best Formations in this Playbook

• Dime 4-1-6: This formation uses six DBs for strong pass coverage. It is best used in third-and-long situations.
• Nickel 4-2-5: This formation brings in an extra DB. It is effective against spread offenses while maintaining run support.
• 4-3 Over: The 4-3 over aligns the front toward the strong side, providing better run defense and pass-rushing lanes.

Best Player Archetypes

• Defensive Tackle: A balanced DT as a well-rounded option that can handle rushing the passer and stopping the run is ideal for this playbook.
• Middle Linebacker: You need a balanced LB to stop runs and drop into coverage when needed.
• Outside Linebacker: Your OLB should be capable of setting the edge, covering outside runs, and blitzing where necessary.
• Defensive Back/ Cornerback: You need a CB who can provide elite zone and man coverage.

4-2-5 Playbook

4-2-5 is among the most commonly used playbooks in College Football 25 by over 40 teams. Many of the formations in this playbook ensure you have access to almost any coverage tactic. Due to how it is set up, it is an excellent playbook for beginners or players who aren’t very good at CFB 25. With this playbook, you will have a great time frustrating teams that rely on spread offenses and passing attacks.

Best Formations in this Playbook

• Base: A balanced formation that is effective against both the run and pass.
• Split: This formation spreads the defensive line more expansive to generate more pass rush.
• Under: This setup moves the front toward the weak side, giving linebackers more space to make plays.

Best Player Archetypes

• Free Safety: You need a deep-coverage free safety who covers deep zones, reads the quarterback, and prevents deep passes.
• Defensive Tackle: A power rusher DT will help your team by providing interior pressure against pass-reliant teams.
• Defensive End: Your DE must be explosive and capable of keeping pressure on the opposition quarterback.

3-2-6 Playbook

This is one of the more exclusive playbooks in the game, as only three teams use it. The 3-2-6 Odd-27 Players lineup within this playbook is arguably one of the best defensive formations in football history. This playbook provides several different coverage options and has several tactical lineups that permit your players to loop around opposing players to get to the opposing QB during blitz moves. This playbook serves you best against spread offenses and pass-heavy teams. The three down linemen, two linebackers, and six defensive backs prioritize speed and coverage to negate wide receiver sets and aerial attacks.

Best Formations in this Playbook

• 3-2-6 Base: This is a balanced alignment for defending spread offenses.
• 3-2-6 Wide: Lining up like this spreads the defensive front to increase QB pressure
• Tight: This setup brings safeties closer to the box for extra run support.

Best Player Archetypes

• Top Cornerback: Your TCB must be capable of high-level man and zone coverage.
• Middle Linebacker: A field general MLB is ideal for this playbook due to their ability to call play adjustments and stop runs.
• Defensive End: Your DE must be strong against opposing runs, able to collapse the pocket, and maintain gap integrity.

Multiple Playbook

As the name implies, the Multiple defensive playbook forces your opponents to account for multiple scenarios while planning their routes. This playbook is so flexible and versatile that it’ll cause massive headaches for even the best offenses. Another great thing about the Multiple defensive playbook is that, with some tweaking, it can counteract any offensive tendencies your opponents may have.

Best Formations in this Playbook

• 3-4 Odd: This setup uses three down linemen and four linebackers to stop the run while disguising blitzes.
• Over/Under: This formation adjusts the defense’s strength to attack strong or weak-side runs.
• Multiple Psycho: This formation uses standing rushers to disguise pressure and confuse QBs.
  

Best Player Archetypes

• Middle Linebacker: This playbook’s versatile shape, shifting between 4-3, 3-4, and nickel/dime packages, requires a versatile MLB who can handle both man and zone coverage while supporting the run.
• Defensive End: A speed rusher defensive end will serve you best for formations like the 4-3 and nickel, where edge rush is crucial.
• Defensive Back: This playbook features many nickel, dime, and dollar formations, so your defensive backs must be pacey, aware, and capable of both man and zone coverage.

3-3-5 Tite

The 3-3-5 Tite is probably the most popular defensive playbook in CFB 25 despite only 11 teams using it in-game. It offers a wide variety of defensive setups and formations. Its versatility and customization set this playbook apart from every other defensive playbook. You can’t go wrong with a defensive playbook that allows you to do some variation of every other playbook(not perfectly, but still quite impressively). The three down linemen, three linebackers, and five defensive backs make this a great playbook to line up with when you come up against spread offensive and pass-heavy teams.

Best Formations in this Playbook

• Tite Base: The standard look of a 3-3-5 tite base is excellent for balancing run defense and pass coverage.
• Tite Wide: This setup spreads the defense, creating better pass rush angles.
• Tite Blitz Packages: This setup features multiple disguised blitzes from linebackers and safeties.

Best Player Archetypes

Linebackers: Your linebackers must be athletic and explosive, capable of blitzing, stopping the run, and covering short passes.

Defensive Linemen: Since the 3-3-5 Tite uses only three down linemen, they must be big, strong, and capable of holding up against double teams.

Defensive Backs: Your five DBs on the field must be fast, instinctive, and able to handle deep coverage and support.