Xbox 360 Achievements

NCAA Football 08 Xbox 360 achievements are almost identical to last year's version with a few new additions. You can unlock many of these through normal games as you battle in Play Now or Dynasty Mode but if you are extremely eager to elevate your gamerscore now, there are faster ways to rattle through NCAA 08's achievements.

The table below reveals all NCAA Football 08 Xbox 360 achievements, their descriptions, and associated gamer points.

The tips below provide some extra "assistance" in unlocking NCAA Football 08 achievements. While most of the achievements can be gained through normal Play Now or Dynasty Mode play, what would be the fun in that? Brag about your rockin' gamerscore after using the tips below!

• Tilt things in your favor by selecting appropriate competition. If your goal is to blast through achievements as quickly as possible, then select inferior competition. Trying to unlock offense achievements? Then battle a team with a terrible defense, such as the UL Monroe Warhawks (no offense to any Warhawk alumni readers). None of your friends have to know that you select USC and you set the computer up with a D+ rated defensive team—but you can still gloat about breaking the single game passing record and unlocking the achievement!
• In general, turnovers occur with greater frequency during inclement weather. If you want a slight advantage in gaining the Intercept 2 Passes and the interception and fumble touchdown return achievements then adjust the weather before the game and pump up precipitation to the maximum. For the fumble return, it doesn't have to start as a fumble return. You could intercept a pass then pitch it—essentially fumbling it when it hits the ground—and pick it back up and continue to the touchdown. Not necessarily easier but it works!
• A new achievement, the single game interception record (5 by a single player) is a tough one; use the same strategy but control the same member of your team's secondary for the entire game to increase the chance of user picks with the same defender. It's also wise to choose a team with an excellent secondary and a computer opponent with an atrocious offense.
• There are two achievements for holding your opponent to under a specific amount of total yards (200 and 100). The most important element to remember here is that it's total yards, not just passing and rushing yards. If you score a ton of points, you are going to kick off frequently giving your opponent an easy 20+ return yards with each boot. An easy way to unlock these achievements is to turn off the "Offside" penalty and use a defender to sack the opposing quarterback every down. If you choose to score points, kick the ball out of bounds. And don't punt. If you do punt, kick it out of bounds.

• Speaking of the "Offside" penalty, adjusting that slider to zero (in the Game Rules menu) makes many other achievements a breeze. Making 4 Sacks and 2 Sack Player are both ridiculously simple (albeit a tad unrewarding, of course) when you can just line up your defender next to the quarterback as he snaps the ball. Scoring a Safety is also a breeze—the only hard part is getting your opponent on the one or two yard line. To do this, run your offense as normal but stop short of the goal line. Waste downs either spiking the ball or kneeling. Your opponent will take over on offense at the goal line. Move your defender into position (next to the opposing quarterback!) and make the tackle!
• There are a bunch of achievements dedicated to offensive exploits, such as a 100 yard rusher or receiver or a 350 yard passer. Team selection is obviously important here. Select a skilled passing team when going for the aerial achievements and a skilled running team when trying to unlock the rushing attack achievements. And of course select UL Monroe Warhawks (sorry again Warhawk fans) as the unfortunate team to defend your offensive onslaught. Become one-dimensional (a bad thing when playing a "real" game but essential here) and focus your offense on a singular goal—achievement unlocked!
• Two new achievements for NCAA 08 include breaking the single game passing yardage and rushing yardage records. This is high yardage by "normal" game standards but if you use the above tip (select great offense, play against bad defense, focus play-calling) and concentrate all passing or rushing yardage on a single player (same quarterback and same running back for their respective achievements) it shouldn't take long before you have crushed the record books.

So, it is cheating…but if you want to unlock achievements quickly, removing the Offside penalty is a good way to start.

• Block a punt of field goal using the "No Offside" slider trick. To gain the achievement, you must block the ball after the punter or kicker strikes it (you can't simply strike the ball while in its flight or tackle the punter). Even with the Offside trick, it's not a completely simple matter. As the opposing special team unit prepares the snap, maneuver your defender to close to the punter or kicker. Just as the ball leaves the foot, stand in front and press the "Y" button to jump up.
• Other new achievements include the—ahem—sponsored achievements. Two are associated with the red zone (the goal line to the 20-yard line). In one you must have 100% perfection (scoring TDs) for each time you enter the red zone; in the other you must prevent your opponent from scoring TDs while in the red zone. Both are straight forward and can be accomplished during normal play or using some of the tricks listed in this section (the Offside trick can certainly put a stop to any opponent's drive in the red zone!).

• The other sponsored achievement deals with the 4th quarter comeback. This is another achievement that will likely be gained through normal play but can be easily staged as well. Choose a great team for yourself and give the computer opponent a terrible team. Allow your opponent to go up by at least 14 before the start of the 4th quarter. Now you must simply put your skills to the test (playing as an A+ team versus a C team will certainly sway things in your favor). You really have no excuses if you're playing against UL Monroe, right? (Sorry again Warhawks)

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