How to Keep the Ball on RPO in Madden 25

In football, a run-pass option (RPO) is an offensive play that the Quarterback can use to hand off, pass, or run the ball depending on how the opposing team’s defense reacts after the ball is snapped. In Madden, you can have your QB keep the ball running or pass it during an RPO. However, doing so can be extremely tricky because the play happens quickly. Here’s how to keep the ball on RPO in Madden 25.

How to Keep the Ball as QB on RPO in Madden 25

Here’s how to keep the ball on RPO in Madden 25:

1. Select the RPO Read Play
2. Hike the ball by pressing the A/X button.
3. Hold the A/X button after hiking to keep the ball as the QB.
   • Note: If you don’t keep pressing the hike button or press it again when it appears above the defender’s head, you will automatically hand the ball off to your running back.
4. Next, you can run the ball with your QB or quickly pass it to your wide receiver.

Doing this will allow your Quarterback to keep the ball and run it past the line of scrimmage. This QB play is only possible using the RPO Read play, and you will not be able to do so with the RBO Alert or RBO Peak plays since those are running and passing plays only.

If you want additional practice with how to keep the ball on RPO in Madden 25, you can head to the Skills Training menu. Once there, there are training sessions that’ll teach you each type of RPO in a stress-free environment.

How to Do an RPO Correctly in Madden 25?

To understand why the RPO Read play is the only way to keep the ball as a quarterback, you must understand how the three different RPO plays work.

Here are the three different RPO play types you can pick in Madden 25:

• RBO Alert: An RBO Alert play is primarily a run play, but if you read that the pass is open, you can quickly throw it to the receiver. However, if you do not pass to the receiver within the allowed time, your Quarterback will automatically hand the ball off to your running back.
• RBO Peek: To execute an RBO Peek play and hand the ball off to the running back, you need to hold down the X/A button after snapping the ball. Hold the snap button to hand off the ball if the linebacker stays back. However, if the linebacker comes down to stop the run, release the snap button quickly to pass the ball to the receiver.
• RBO Read: The RBO Read play is similar to a read option play but with an added pass option. There are two quick reads involved in this play. First, you read the outside player, usually the defensive end. If the defensive end hesitates and stays with the Quarterback, you hand the ball off to the running back. If the defensive end commits to the running back, you let the Quarterback run with the ball. After keeping the ball with the Quarterback, you must read to the next outside player. If the player comes down to the Quarterback, you quickly throw the ball to the wide receiver with a screen pass. If the defender stays with the wide receiver, you keep running with the Quarterback.

Now that you know how to keep the ball on RPO in Madden 25, you’ll have many options, such as having your Quarterback run or pass the ball instead of automatically handing it off to your running back. Check out our Madden 25 hub for more guides like How to Kneel in Madden 25 to run out the clock.