MCS 24 is set to organize six tournaments leading up to the grand finale, the Ultimate Madden Bowl, where participants will have the chance to compete for $1.7 million in prize money across the entire Madden NFL 24 circuit. Here is everything you need to know about MCS 24.
The Madden NFL 23 Championship Series experienced unprecedented growth in player participation and marked a significant milestone with the first in-person competition in more than three years.
The event was highlighted by an extraordinary performance from "Dez," who made history by becoming the youngest player ever to win the Madden Bowl Championship.
Building on the success of the previous year, we will see the return of the Madden Championship Series ("MCS 24") in Madden NFL 24. Here are the key highlights for the upcoming season.
MCS 24 In Madden NFL 24
MCS announced new headlines for the new season:
More Chances to Win:
- Each month from September to January will feature one competition with at least USD $125,000 on the line, giving you more opportunities to showcase your skills and earn more!
More Live, In-Person Events:
- All finals will be played live, in-person as MCS looks to bring players back together during MCS 24.
More Ways to Play:
- Cross-play is coming to the MCS, allowing players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC to all compete in the same virtual gridiron.
More Rewards for All:
- Whether you are a first-time participant, veteran MCS competitor looking to stream more, or regular fan who watches the MCS events, MCS 24 will offer more opportunities for you to earn in-game content to build your MUT roster.
MCS 24: Ultimate Madden Bowl
Starting from now until January 2024, you will have five chances to register and participate in competitions. Your performance will not only earn you exciting prizes but also valuable points based on your placement. At the end of the season, the top 14 players with the most points will secure a spot in this year's Ultimate Madden Bowl.
Make sure to read the official rules first before you sign up.
MCS 24 Platforms And Phases
MCS 24 tournaments are open for players on any Gen 5 console (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5) or PC, allowing for exciting cross-platform competition. These tournaments will be exclusively available through Madden Ultimate Team and consist of three distinct phases:
1. Ladder Play Phase:
- The journey begins here, where you'll compete against other players and aim to climb the leaderboard.
- Standings will be updated after each match, providing real-time insights into your rank as you strive for a spot among the top 32 competitors who will earn a crucial bye to the Single Elimination Phase (Day 2).
2. Single Elimination Phase:
- On Day 1, the top 544 ranked players will advance to this phase and earn MCS points based on their tournament performance.
- Players ranked from 33rd to 544th will compete in single elimination matches until only the top 32 remain, who will proceed to Single Elimination Phase (Day 2).
- Day 2 will see the top 32 players from the Ladders and the top 32 players from Day 1 of Eliminations seeded into a 64-person single elimination bracket.
- Competitors will face off until reaching the participants for the Live Event Phase.
3. Live Event Phase:
- The top 4 players (top 8 for Ultimate Kickoff) from the Single Elimination Phase will be flown out for an in-person showdown.
- The winners of each event in this phase will earn the prestigious MCS Belt.
MCS 24: Ultimate Kickoff
The MCS 24 season commences with the Ultimate Kickoff, featuring a prize pool of USD $200,000. Coinciding with NFL Kickoff, this event provides Madden NFL 24 players with their first opportunity to showcase their skills and rise through the ranks.
After Ladder Play and Single Elimination, the top 8 players will compete in the live finals, which will be streamed on the official MCS Twitch and YouTube channels.
Below are the key dates you need to know:
Registration:
- Opens: August 1st at 11:00am EST
- Closes: August 20th at 12:59pm EST
Ladder Play Stage:
- August 19th from 1:00pm EST - 9:00pm EST
- August 20th from 1:00pm EST - 9:00pm EST
- A minimum of 6 games must be played, and the top 544 competitors will advance to the next phases.
- The top 32 will earn byes and be placed into Phase 3.
Single Elimination Stage:
- Top 544 players advance to the Elimination Phase. Top 32 players advance to Day 2.
- Day 1: August 27th will play rounds 512/256/128/64
- Day 2: August 28th will play rounds 64/32/16
Live Event Phase:
- Top 8 players are flown out for a live & in-person showdown.
- Quarterfinals: September 5th kicking off at 6:30pm EST
- Semifinals & Finals: September 6th kickoff at 6:30pm EST
MCS 24: Ultimate Challenges
The MCS 24 season brings an enhanced competitive program, offering you four chances to participate in monthly challenges from October through January. Each challenge will offer the same points and prizes, providing an equal playing field for all participants. As registration opens for each challenge, more details will be released. For now, here's an overview of the key dates:
| Registration | Ladder Play | Elimination | Live Event | |
| Challenge #1 | September 4th - 23rd | September 16th, 17th, 23rd, and 24th | September 30th - October 1st | October 18th |
| Challenge #2 | October 9th - 23rd | October 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th | October 28th - 29th | November 14th |
| Challenge #3 | November 13th - 19th | November 18th - 19th | November 25th - 26th | December 6th |
| Challenge #4 | December 4th - 11th | December 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th | December 16th - 17th | January 10th |
MCS 24: Ultimate Madden Bowl
The MCS 24 season will conclude with the USD $1,000,000 Ultimate Madden Bowl, featuring the top 14 cumulative points-earners. The world's best Madden NFL 24 players will face off in a single-elimination bracket across several broadcast days as the event seeks to crown this year's Ultimate Madden Bowl Champion.
MCS 24: Points System Explained
Once you qualify for the online elimination stage in any of the five Ultimate tournaments (Kickoff or Challenge 1 - 4), you will begin earning MCS points towards your overall standing. By the end of all these tournaments, the top 14 cumulative points earners will automatically advance to the Ultimate Madden Bowl.
Ultimate Kickoff:
| Placement | MCS Points |
| 1st place | 1250 |
| 2nd place | 900 |
| 3rd – 4th place | 700 |
| 5th – 8th place | 550 |
| 9th – 16th place | 400 |
| 17th – 32nd place | 350 |
| 33rd – 64th place | 300 |
| 65th – 96th place | 250 |
| 97th – 160th place | 200 |
| 161st – 288th place | 100 |
| 289th – 544th place | 50 |
Ultimate Challenge 1-4:
| Placement | MCS Points |
| 1st place | 1000 |
| 2nd place | 750 |
| 3rd – 4th place | 600 |
| 5th – 8th place | 450 |
| 9th – 16th place | 400 |
| 17th – 32nd place | 350 |
| 33rd – 64th place | 300 |
| 65th – 96th place | 250 |
| 97th – 160th place | 200 |
| 161st – 288th place | 100 |
| 289th – 544th place | 50 |
MCS 24: Prize Money
Apart from earning a Madden Belt, participants will also compete for a portion of the $1.7M prize pool. Each player who takes part in at least one game per tournament will receive a MUT Red Zone Pack. This year, the prizing for both the Ultimate Kickoff and Ultimate Challenges has been expanded, and the tournament prizing structures are detailed below.
Ultimate Kickoff:
| Placement | Prize |
| 1st place | $40,000 |
| 2nd place | $30,000 |
| 3rd – 4th place | $15,000 |
| 5th – 8th place | $9,000 |
| 9th – 16th place | $4,000 |
| 17th – 32nd place | $2,000 |
Ultimate Challenge:
| Placement | Prize |
| 1st place | $30,000 |
| 2nd place | $20,000 |
| 3rd – 4th place | $10,000 |
| 5th – 8th place | $5,000 |
| 9th – 16th place | $2,375 |
| 17th – 32nd place | $1,000 |
Ultimate Madden Bowl:
| Placement | Prize |
| 1st place | $250,000 |
| 2nd place | $150,000 |
| 3rd – 4th place | $100,000 |
| 5th – 8th place | $55,000 |
| 9th – 14th place | $30,000 |
In order to compete in this year's MCS you must be at least 16 years of age or older and reside in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, or Mexico.