OCModShop published a FAQ and Strategy Guide for NCAA Football 09.
Quote from the gaming guide: "Before you jump in, I need you to play a normal game. Just play a quick game against the computer. You be a great team and play a decent-enough team. If you win by a lot (20+) then please go to the game options and up the game difficulty. Play another game and if you still win by a lot, play another quick game on Heisman. If you win, and not even by a lot, but if you win a game on the hardest difficulty, you are pretty good.
You can play more games, figure out the controls, get to know your team, get to know how the game of football works, and play until you think you're ready to invest some time into this game."
Read the full guide on OCModShop.