The game also makes available authentic playbooks (including plays such as the Wishbone), and a USA Today/CNN Coaches Poll, as well as the Sears National Championship Trophy.

The top four teams were flown to New Orleans in January 1997 to attend both the finals and the Sugar Bowl.

[2] Reviews for this installment were still positive, but reviewers generally commented that the additions and improvements from College Football USA '96 are too subtle, and advised gamers who already owned the previous installment to carefully consider how important the new features are to them before purchasing.

[5][3][4] However, GamePro called the Super NES port "a complete gridiron debacle.

The frame rate and animation are poor (the players look armless), and the sound features the most obnoxious whistle in sports gaming history."