I think I'm less excited this year because I see the issues with NCAA 12 and know it's not feasible that they'll all get changed for NCAA 13.

Gameplay needs an overhaul, d-line/o-line play, psychic secondary, 1-handing interceptions, passing trajectory. And that's before even getting into the fact that players need to play with weight, stick their cleats into the ground, play with momentum, and be different from one another. Different throwing motions and release quickness for QB's, ways to differentiate skill position players, linebackers who hit differently than other other linebackers, players who are great at creating turnovers (think Charles Tillman on the Bears), etc. My team feels and plays the same in 2012 in 2016 because all the players are virtually identical (even the in-game player faces are too limited).

Dynasty needs a significant update as well. Currently it's too mechanical, you recruit best class = you have best team. That's not how it goes (ask Texas, FSU, and UF). There should be 5 star busts, but the core of a team is still 3 and 4 star kids that get developed. The best way to do this would be a physical potential and work ethic rating which combined with the skills of position and head coaches (and ideally a strength and conditioning coach) would determine their development. 5 star kids with great athletic ability and garbage work ethic rating would never reach their potential. On the flip side, a 3 star kids with great work ethic and the right coaches would develop into good or great players. There just aren't enough variables in recruiting/development so everyone just progresses at a similar rate. This makes recruiting and dynasty stale because every year seems so similar, on the field and in recruiting/development. In real life it's the complete opposite of that. Every player is different, every coaching staff is different, ever S&C program is different. Players develop at different rates and as hard as they try the Star system is a "tool" and not an exact science on how to build a national champion.

And those are the two elements of the game that I view as the core - that's before I even get into things like gameday environment, CPU playcalling, presentation, commentary, different dreadlock lengths that are actually attached to heads, etc etc.

It just seems like there are too many things to fix to get this game to a level where it could be considered great. The competition for your time continues to increase. Job, wife/girlfriend, kids, movies, games that have taken things to the "next level". If I weren't addicted to college football and recruiting (National Signing Day is like an unofficial holiday to me) I probably would have given up on this series awhile ago. I think the biggest issue for me was that I thought NCAA 11 was this franchise "turning the corner" and heading towards an elite level. NCAA 12 served as the reality check that it probably won't happen without a competitor.