Madden NFL 26 Season 1 Ultimate Team Guide
1. Season 1 Overview
Season 1 runs for several weeks, and every activity you do in Ultimate Team — challenges, solo battles, H2H seasons, and special program objectives — earns you Season XP. The big goal? Reaching the highest tiers of the Field Pass to unlock:
Elite Marshawn Lynch — Power back with trucking dominance.
Elite Tee Higgins — Tall possession WR perfect for red-zone plays.
The main content pillars this Season are:
Game Time — A competitive event focusing on quick-fire matchups and skill challenges.
Campus Heroes — Nostalgia-driven program featuring college legends.
Season Field Pass — Your long-term XP tracker for rewards.
2. Game Time Program
What It Is
Game Time is a limited-time program with a mix of competitive and solo content. It rewards program-specific tokens, coins, and Season XP.
Best Way to Play
Start with Solo Challenges — Knock out easy objectives for guaranteed tokens and XP before heading online.
Token Strategy — Collect enough tokens to exchange for Game Time Packs, which have a higher chance of elite pulls during Week 1.
Objective Tracking — Many Game Time objectives stack with Field Pass goals (e.g., scoring X touchdowns, forcing turnovers).
Pro Tip: Play early. The matchmaking pool is softer during the first 72 hours after launch, making online wins easier.
3. Campus Heroes Program
What It Is
Campus Heroes brings back legendary college players in special MUT cards with boosted stats and unique chemistries.
Why It Matters for Early Roster Building
Affordable 84–88 OVR cards early in the year.
Many Campus Hero players can be upgraded through collectible items earned in challenges.
Best Way to Progress
Complete Campus Heroes Challenges — These reward collectibles needed for upgrading Campus Hero cards.
Complete Sets — Trade in lower-OVR players plus collectibles to get higher-OVR versions.
Look for Chemistry Fits — Some Campus Heroes boost specific team themes or position groups.
Pro Tip: Prioritize positions where elite cards are scarce early on — often CBs, pass rushers, or offensive linemen.
4. Field Pass: Your Season XP Roadmap
How It Works
The Field Pass is a tiered reward track. You earn XP through almost everything in MUT, but the fastest way is stacking daily, weekly, and program objectives.
XP Farming Strategy
Daily Objectives — Easy, repeatable, and stackable. Includes buying a pack, completing a set, and gaining yards.
Program Objectives — These tie directly to Game Time and Campus Heroes. You’ll earn big XP chunks for completing full event milestones.
Competitive Pass Synergy — Wins in MUT Champs or Solo Battles feed Competitive Pass XP, which also grants Season XP.
Key Tier Rewards
Mid-Tier: Coins, training, elite player packs.
End-Tier: Marshawn Lynch (mid-to-late Season), Tee Higgins (final stretch).
5. How to Get Marshawn Lynch Fast
Why You Want Him
Marshawn’s trucking animations are top-tier, and he excels in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Unlock Path
Focus on high-XP milestones in Game Time and Campus Heroes early.
Max out Competitive Pass weekly for bonus XP injections.
Don’t skip daily XP — over the Season, that’s several Field Pass tiers’ worth.
Gameplay Tip: Pair Marshawn with a fullback that boosts run-blocking and use Power O or Inside Zone to maximize his skillset.
6. How to Get Tee Higgins Efficiently
Why You Want Him
Tee’s height (6'4") and catch-in-traffic rating make him lethal on fades, slants, and contested catches.
Unlock Path
Tee is unlocked deeper in the Season Pass, so consistency is key.
Even after getting Marshawn, keep grinding program objectives for XP.
Take advantage of double XP weekends (usually announced in MUT menus).
Gameplay Tip: Use him as your X receiver and pair him with a speedy slot WR for balance.
7. Smart Coin & Pack Management
With multiple programs running at once, it’s easy to blow coins early — don’t.
Save Packs until program content drops — your odds of pulling new elites increase.
Sell Early Elites from packs to fund key upgrades; prices drop as the market stabilizes.
Invest in training only when you have a specific upgrade path in mind.
8. Weekly Routine for Season 1 Success
Monday–Wednesday
Knock out Game Time and Campus Heroes challenges.
Complete daily objectives and buy the cheapest pack possible to fulfill the requirement.
Thursday–Friday
Play Solo Battles or MUT Champs for Competitive Pass XP.
Check Auction House for weekend market dips.
Saturday–Sunday
Grind online matchups when rewards refresh.
Focus on program milestone completions for the big XP drops.
9. Bonus Tips for Early Season Edge
Mix Programs — Many objectives overlap (e.g., score 150 points in Game Time while earning Campus Heroes collectibles).
Track XP Gains — Use the in-game tracker to see if you’re hitting your daily/weekly XP targets.
Join a MUT Community — Discords and buy Madden 26 coins forums often post when double XP or hidden challenges appear.
10. Final Thoughts
Season 1 in Madden NFL 26 Ultimate Team is all about maximizing overlap between programs. By stacking Game Time, Campus Heroes, Competitive Pass, and daily objectives, you can unlock Marshawn Lynch and Tee Higgins well before most players. Stay consistent, manage your coins wisely, and you’ll have a dream roster before the Season ends.