March is just around the corner — and you know what that means.

Madness is back.

And so is Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 26, the deepest and most realistic college basketball simulation game on the market.

This year, we didn’t just polish the surface. We rebuilt systems, expanded modern-era features, and enhanced the experience from recruiting to cutting down the nets. Whether you're a long-time DDS veteran or new to the series, College Basketball 26 delivers more strategy, realism, and control than ever before.

Let’s break it down.

A Completely Revamped UI & Game Presentation

Looks matter — and this year we’ve completely redesigned the user interface.

We’ve replaced the side and upper menus with one streamlined navigation bar across the top, giving you:

• More usable screen space
• Faster access to every major screen
• A cleaner, more modern presentation

The in-game display has also been rebuilt using the new arena template introduced in DDS: Pro Basketball 26. The result?

• A sharper visual presentation
• Better flow between simulation and live control
• The ability to fast-forward through parts of a game while still following the action
• Seamless jump-in control whenever you're ready

We know many of you love your custom courts, so we’ve kept the classic game view available as an option while the community transitions to the new format. Flexibility matters.

Expanded Features for Modern College Basketball

A great college basketball management game needs more than good visuals — it needs depth.

This year, we’ve aligned the game even closer to modern college basketball realities:

• Full 15-scholarship rosters
• Added awards including 3rd Team All-Conference
• New conference types and scheduling formats
• Numerous quality-of-life improvements across screens

And for players who link their college leagues to DDS: Pro Basketball 26, players will import with the new player archetype system that was introduced into PB26. When your athletes graduate to the pros, they’ll now transition more realistically — ensuring their skills translate properly into the professional game.

A Completely Reimagined NIL System

The biggest evolution in College Basketball 26? NIL.

Name, Image & Likeness has reshaped real-world college sports — and now it fully reshapes your strategy.

First, for traditionalists:
You can still disable NIL and the transfer portal entirely and play in a more classic-era format where transfers sit out and roster movement is limited.

But if you want modern realism, we’ve built the most advanced NIL system in the series:

• Control how aggressive your NIL collective is with offers in different amounts
• Push hard for priority recruits
• Strategically allocate your NIL resources
• Create competitive advantages in recruiting battles

Bottom line - more control over your NIL strategy.

A Deeper, More Dynamic Transfer Portal

The transfer portal has become one of the most powerful forces in college basketball — and now it truly feels that way.

We’ve introduced three transfer activity levels, including:

1. A traditional level similar to last year
2. A more modern level
3. A high-movement level that mirrors today’s rapidly shifting rosters

At higher levels, you could see dramatically different teams from season to season — just like real life.

Additional enhancements include:

• Unlimited portal days to fill your roster properly
• A new Division II background league where unsigned recruits and unclaimed transfers remain to come back in future seasons
• Persistent recruiting relationships — if you recruited a player before, you’ll have an advantage if they enter the portal later

This adds a new strategic layer by allowing you to exhaust your recruiting budget each season with a purpose - that being a potential head start on a player in the portal later on if he transfers.

Hidden Gems & Strategic Depth

We’ve added additional improvements and subtle systems throughout the game that we’ll let you discover on your own. We think you will be surprised when you come upon some of these new, small additions.

College Basketball 26 isn’t just an update — it’s an evolution in college basketball management strategy.

Release Dates

You won’t have to wait long.

• FirstAccess: Wednesday, March 4
• Full Release: Friday, March 13

If you’re ready to build a powerhouse, master NIL strategy, dominate the transfer portal, and guide your program to a national championship…

It’s time to cut down the nets.

Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 26 is almost here.

‍