College Football 26 continues to deliver meaningful content drops, but not every impactful card comes with a massive price tag. With the latest season refresh, players gained access to a potentially free Tommy Castellanos quarterback card, and that alone made it worth testing in live, competitive gameplay. Free cards in CFB 26 often come with trade-offs CFB 26 Coins, but occasionally, one sneaks through that can actually compete when used correctly.



This gameplay session focused entirely on figuring out where Tommy Castellanos shines, where he struggles, and which offensive systems actually unlock his value. After multiple games streamed live, including one chaotic comeback and a national championship run, the verdict on Castellanos is clearer than expected.



Tommy Castellanos Card Overview



At first glance, Tommy Castellanos is clearly designed as a run-first quarterback. His stats immediately point toward mobility rather than pure passing dominance.



Key Attributes:



95 Speed-Elite-tier mobility, one of the fastest QBs available

89 Throw Power-Noticeably below top-end quarterbacks

Below-average Accuracy Ratings-Especially inconsistent outside of short throws



This combination creates a very specific archetype. Castellanos isn't meant to sit in the pocket and carve defenses apart. Instead, he thrives when defenses are forced to account for him as a runner on every snap.



For abilities, the focus was on Ball Security, which is essential when your quarterback is frequently taking hits on scrambles, QB zone reads, and broken plays.



Offensive Playbooks Tested: Hits and Misses



One of the most important takeaways from this session was how dramatically offensive scheme impacts Castellanos' performance.



Utah Offense: The Perfect Fit



The Utah offense ended up being the best environment for Castellanos. This playbook emphasizes:



QB zone reads

Inside and outside zone runs

Designed quarterback keepers

Play-action concepts off heavy run looks



With Utah, Castellanos felt natural. His speed turned basic QB runs into chunk gains, and defenses consistently struggled to contain him. Even when passing lanes weren't perfect, the threat of his legs forced defenders to hesitate, opening up quick throws underneath.

This offense allowed Castellanos to play to his strengths instead of exposing his weaknesses.



Lane Offense: A Disaster Experiment



In contrast, the Lane offense was a complete mismatch. One of the games featured early showcased just how bad things can get when a quarterback doesn't fit the playbook.



The issues were immediate:



Long-developing routes

Heavy reliance on timing throws

Little help from designed QB runs

Constant pressure with no easy outlets



The result was stalled drives, missed reads, sacks, and frustration. The offense simply didn't allow Castellanos to use his speed effectively, and the lack of throw power made vertical concepts unreliable. That game quickly snowballed into a hole that required an insane comeback attempt.



This portion of the gameplay made one thing crystal clear: Tommy Castellanos is not plug-and-play.



Live Gameplay Highlights and Turning Points



Despite the struggles in certain schemes, Castellanos still delivered some electric moments.



Early in the session, his mobility immediately made an impact. Broken contain turned into first downs, and defensive ends who failed to respect QB keepers were punished. Several drives were extended purely because defenders couldn't close space fast enough.



One of the standout moments came during a wild comeback game. After being written off early, Castellanos' legs kept drives alive, allowing the defense to flip momentum with key turnovers. A defensive score and multiple short fields turned the tide, leading to a comeback win that felt improbable given how poorly the offense had started.



Later in the session, Castellanos capped things off with a national championship victory, proving that even a free quarterback card can win at the highest level-if used correctly.



Passing with Castellanos: Manage Expectations



Passing is where Castellanos shows his limitations most clearly.



While he's capable of:



Hitting green throws

Completing drags, flats, and quick slants

Delivering serviceable play-action passes



He struggles when asked to:



Drive the ball deep outside the numbers

Fit passes into tight coverage

Throw consistently under pressure



The 89 throw power is noticeable. Deep posts and corner routes lack zip, giving users time to react. Accuracy inconsistencies also show up at inopportune moments, especially when the offense falls behind and passing becomes mandatory.



This doesn't make him unusable-it simply means the offense must be structured around low-risk throws and movement-based reads.Defensive Support and Complementary Football



Another reason Castellanos worked in this session was strong defensive play. The team leaned into a defensive football identity, relying on stops, turnovers, and field position rather than shootouts.



Key defensive moments included:



User interceptions at critical points

Timely knockouts on third and fourth down

Defensive touchdowns that flipped momentum



This approach fits Castellanos perfectly. He doesn't need to throw for 350 yards if the defense is constantly giving him short fields. When paired with aggressive defense, his skill set becomes far more valuable.



Why This Card Is Scheme-Dependent



The biggest conclusion from this gameplay is simple: Tommy Castellanos is not a universal quarterback.



He excels in:



Utah-style run-heavy systems

Offenses with frequent QB runs

Schemes that use play-action sparingly but effectively



He struggles in:



Throw-first spread offenses

Vertical passing systems

Playbooks that rely on deep timing routes



There are a few other schemes where he could work-such as Alabama Trips Tight End or other mobile-QB-friendly sets-but he will never feel comfortable in a traditional pocket-passing offense.



Final Verdict: Is Tommy Castellanos Worth Using?



For a free or easily obtainable card, Tommy Castellanos is surprisingly viable.



Pros:

Elite speed changes defensive behavior

Excellent QB run potential

Fun, dynamic playstyle

Strong fit in specific playbooks



Cons:

Weak throw power limits passing ceiling

Accuracy can be unreliable

Completely scheme-dependent



If you enjoy mobile quarterbacks and are willing to build your offense around them, Castellanos can absolutely win games-even championships. However, if you expect him to function like a traditional QB1 in every offense, you'll be disappointed.



Closing Thoughts cheap NCAA 26 Coins



Tommy Castellanos represents exactly what free cards should be in CFB 26: usable, fun, but not overpowered. He rewards creativity, punishes predictable defenses, and forces players to think differently about play-calling.



He won't replace elite paid quarterbacks, but in the right hands-and the right system-he's more than capable of competing at a high level. If you're looking for something off-meta that still wins games, Castellanos is absolutely worth your time.