EA revamps Madden NFL Championship Series, renews Full Sail pact

EA Sports overhauled the Madden NFL 27 Championship Series by introducing a two-track qualification system: an eight-player Pro League for top competitors alongside Open Qualifiers for online and in-person entrants. USAA will sponsor the 2027 season and all in-game MCS matches will be played at a branded USAA Stadium.

EA said the updated format is designed to expand access to the Madden Bowl and to create season-long storylines for players and fans. The Pro League will stage regular-season play among top players, while Open Qualifiers will provide additional routes into the season finale.

Full Sail University’s Orlando campus will host MCS events for a third consecutive year. The season will be broadcast live from Full Sail’s Orlando Health Fortress facility, and Madden Bowl 27 will be held on campus at Full Sail Live in February 2027.

Students in Full Sail’s entertainment and media programs will work on live broadcasts in areas such as broadcast operations and content production. For the first time, students from the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting will join EA’s on-air broadcast desk for the entire season. EA plans to hire 100 Full Sail graduates into production roles and will continue funding scholarships and learning opportunities for students.

Monica Dinsmore, Head of Esports at EA, described the format as reflecting ‘‘our commitment to growing the competitive ecosystem by creating more opportunities for players while elevating the experience for both competitors and fans,’’ and noted that the Open Qualifier system creates a clear path for players at every skill level to reach the championship stage.

John P. Saboor, Executive Director and Head of Partnerships at Full Sail University, called hosting Madden Bowl 27 ‘‘a defining moment for our students, graduates, and our Full Sail University community at large’’ and pointed to year-over-year growth in the university’s relationship with EA.

The MCS 27 calendar includes regular-season Pro League play, open qualifying tournaments, live broadcasts from Full Sail facilities and the Madden Bowl finale in February 2027.