No custom rosters for franchise expansion modes?

[CujoMatty]

Apparently you can't import custom rosters if you want to do either of the expansion options in franchise. That means no created players which is a huge bummer. Any word if they are looking at patching it?

[onthatnote]

Why is it always one step forward - two steps back with this game?

[sadler]

I would imagine the rosters are hard coded into the game because doing the expansion options puts the game date pre-draft (therefore the rosters are from this date).

Obviously playing the normal way means rosters are from current (17/18).

[synjin]

Sorry to necro-post this, but I found this thread via google and after looking at the rest of the board I still don't quite have a hard answer.

What I know is: 31 or 32 team franchise mode versions cannot use custom rosters (though there are apparently work arounds for created players as UFA)

What I DON'T understand is how can I use custom rosters at all? Everytime I choose "Classic" franchise mode (that starts at pre-season), the custom roster I chose as active isn't being used. It's still uses the default online roster from the latest update. Any help please? Do I have to merge rosters? If so, how do I do that. Normally, I'd consult a manual, but since we haven't had one of those in like 10 years of this game, I'm at a loss.