HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

[Tomahawk]

I want to setup 10 conferences of 12 teams. The other 14 remaining teams will be independents.

Q1: Can I choose each conference to play 11 games so it’s a true round Robin?

Q2: If I choose divisions of 6 and 8 conference games will each team play the 5 division games and 3 games against the other division?

Q3: If I choose divisions do the games equally rotate against the other division?

[SilverBullet19]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

Easiest way to test this is to start a dynasty and immediately create custom conferences. You can do that before the first season if I remember correctly.

FWIW, I altered the conferences to create my own PAC-12 in 2025. I set it to 9 conference games (10 team conference), but somehow only wound up with 3 conference games. Many also said early on the conference schedule did not rotate (for example, if you're at Michigan in year 1, you're ALWAYS at Michigan and never play them at home). I believe this was patched, but I haven't played enough to verify

[Tomahawk]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

Appreciate the information!

[paco86]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

I want to setup 10 conferences of 12 teams. The other 14 remaining teams will be independents.

From what I have tried, the problem with 12 teams in a conference and having divisions is that not all teams will play the same number of conference games. Some will play 8, but others may play 7 or 9. If you create a 12-team conference, then having no divisions resolves the problem.

[Tomahawk]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

Would 10 team be better with 9 conference games? Is 9 the max for conference games?

[paco86]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

Would 10 team be better with 9 conference games? Is 9 the max for conference games?

Yes! I have 10-team conferences, no divisions and 9 conference games in my dynasty. And each one works out great. Each team plays each other once, and every team plays exactly 9 conference games.

[djp73]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

I'm doing a coach career where I am currently the OC at Kent State. After finishing up year one I decided to add UMass to the MAC as they will be actually joining. Then I read about the custom conference issues and reverted. Now I am noticing a few scheduling issues. I have 3 home and 5 away conference games. I believe but would have to verify that some of the other teams in the MAC do not have 8 conference games. Any way to fix this going forward?

[studbucket]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

FWIW - and there's been a few threads on this - I am not sure anyone has been able to definitely prove that custom conferences cause scheduling issues. I believe many of the issues folks have seen happen even in the default "vanilla" conference setup.

I am open to being wrong, and maybe certain configurations jack things up, but it's pretty clear that the scheduling logic in the game is pretty buggy. It seems like changing your own schedule is more likely to break things than custom conferences.

[paco86]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

Now I am noticing a few scheduling issues. I have 3 home and 5 away conference games.

Seeing the same thing when setting up 8 conference games, very unbalanced conference schedule for many teams. I changed to 9 conference games and the conference schedule gets more balanced, that is, all teams play 4 home and 5 away conference games or vice versa. Not ideal but better than having mostly (if not all) conference games at home or on the road.

[0blong00]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

FWIW - and there's been a few threads on this - I am not sure anyone has been able to definitely prove that custom conferences cause scheduling issues. I believe many of the issues folks have seen happen even in the default "vanilla" conference setup.

I am open to being wrong, and maybe certain configurations jack things up, but it's pretty clear that the scheduling logic in the game is pretty buggy. It seems like changing your own schedule is more likely to break things than custom conferences.

I’ve definitely seen issues with “vanilla” conferences: unbalanced schedules, 5 straight road games, etc.

I don’t say this to give anyone a pass, but I think schedules are really difficult to generate. Every sports game I’ve played has or had issues. I haven’t played madden in a few years but I know there were issues there in the past and mlb the show couldn’t figure out rotating schedules and even this year the games in year one had schedule issues; ie teams playing way too many day games. And these are games with 30 or 32 teams and no customization. A brand new game with 134 teams with custom conferences and schedules, there were bound to be issues.

All that being said I hope they can get it sorted out.

[SilverBullet19]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

I’ve definitely seen issues with “vanilla” conferences: unbalanced schedules, 5 straight road games, etc.

I don’t say this to give anyone a pass, but I think schedules are really difficult to generate. Every sports game I’ve played has or had issues. I haven’t played madden in a few years but I know there were issues there in the past and mlb the show couldn’t figure out rotating schedules and even this year the games in year one had schedule issues; ie teams playing way too many day games. And these are games with 30 or 32 teams and no customization. A brand new game with 134 teams with custom conferences and schedules, there were bound to be issues.

All that being said I hope they can get it sorted out.

I’d agree about it being tough, but this wasn’t an issue in NCAA 14. I changed conferences and shuffled things repeatedly and it worked flawlessly. My conference games rotated home/away every year like clockwork. It was balanced at 4/4 or 4/5 then 5/4 when I had 9 games.

Granted, I’m sure the programming since then is very different, but hopefully they can look back at that coding to figure it out.

I want to move the teams to the PAC in 2026 including mine, but last time I made the PAC I got 3 total conference games. So that makes me worried, it would destroy immersion. As it is I’ve probably got 2-3 weeks till I reach that year. Hopefully it’s fixed

[jello1717]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

I’d agree about it being tough, but this wasn’t an issue in NCAA 14. I changed conferences and shuffled things repeatedly and it worked flawlessly. My conference games rotated home/away every year like clockwork. It was balanced at 4/4 or 4/5 then 5/4 when I had 9 games.

Granted, I’m sure the programming since then is very different, but hopefully they can look back at that coding to figure it out.

I want to move the teams to the PAC in 2026 including mine, but last time I made the PAC I got 3 total conference games. So that makes me worried, it would destroy immersion. As it is I’ve probably got 2-3 weeks till I reach that year. Hopefully it’s fixed

Unless it’s an online dynasty you can always save a copy, make the changes, and sim ahead to see what it looks like. I changed my Pac12 in 2025 and I’m now in 2030 and have never had any problems with them (although I’ve never played in the Pac12, but I check conferences every year).

[djflock]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

So I am wanting to set up a new pac 12. What exactly do I need to do to limit the amount of issues? (10 teams? 9 conference games? etc.)

[Tomahawk]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

10 teams would probably be best. I’m experimenting right now with 10 and 11 team conferences (9 and 10 conference game) with better teams. The lower level schools are currently in 3 conferences with divisions of 10 teams each.

[SilverBullet19]

Re: HELP: Custom Conference Questions?

So I am wanting to set up a new pac 12. What exactly do I need to do to limit the amount of issues? (10 teams? 9 conference games? etc.)

I believe some have said that works and it is my plan. I’m in 2025 and planning to move in 2026 as in real life. So I’ve gotta do a bit of research. Seems I’ve seen 10 teams with no divisions and 9 conference games works best