Madden NFL 27 Game Time MUT Program Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• What Time Is It?
• What’s New in Game Time
• ICYMI - Game Time Recap
  • Welcome Pack Player Items
  • Champions: Winning Chemistry
  • Evolutions (EVOS)
  • Clock’s Ticking Event
  • Challenges: Clock’s Ticking
  • Game Time Sets
  • Field Pass
• Five Tips for Game Time

What Time Is It?

It’s Game Time!

The Game Time Program, available now in EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 27 Ultimate Team until September 24 (1:30 p.m. ET), celebrates the start of the season with new Player Items for your favorite NFL team and the 31 others, all representing the athletes who make the most explosive, gamechanging plays in the league. These playmakers are ready to make that impact on your roster in the program’s new Challenges, the Clock’s Ticking Event, your continued climb towards the top of H2H Ranked and through the Gauntlet, or your next CPU stomp through modes like Solo Champions. 

Here’s everything you need to know about this Madden Ultimate Team Program:

What’s New in Game Time

As of publishing (September 15), this program will receive one update today and another on Thursday, September 17. Combined across both updates, expect over 20 new Player Items to be added into the pool of available items for Madden Ultimate Team Packs (see in-game for individual pack probabilities). There are also two new earnable Player Items: one through Events, and another through Challenges.

Today’s release includes one new 88 OVR LTD player: TE Tucker Kraft of the Green Bay Packers. From now until September 22, Kraft will be added to the Player Item pool of items for Packs in the Store. 

Additionally, today’s Game Time release also includes two additional 87 OVR Champions, RB James Cook III of the Buffalo Bills and SS Brian Branch of the Detroit Lions. They are now available in the pool of Player Items for Packs in the Store or can be earned by exchanging Player Items through the 87 OVR Game Time Champion Fantasy Pack. They’ll also be added to the pool of Player Items for Packs throughout the season, including Game Time Packs.

The September 17th Game Time Program Update introduces even more Player Items: Starting with the H2H event, you can now earn 87 OVR FS Malaki Starks of the Baltimore Ravens by completing Tier 4 of either version of the Game Time: Clock’s Ticking H2H Event.

There are also an additional 16 84 OVR Heroes to complete coverage of all NFL teams and four new 87 OVR Champions. These can be chosen out of their respective 87 OVR Champion and 84 OVR Hero Game Time Set rewards, and will continue to be available in the pool of Player items within Packs throughout the season.

Two additional LTDs will also be added to the pool of Player Items in Packs from September 17 to September 24: WR Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers and WILL Linebacker Quay Walker of the Las Vegas Raiders.

In addition, new objectives will be made available for the Game Time Field Pass alongside the second half of Challenges, including new “Clock’s Ticking” Challenges, which means more Coins and the ability to unlock 84 OVR BND LEDG Dallas Turner.

A young edge rusher who had a breakout Sophomore season, Dallas Turner co-led the league in strip sacks in 2025 while helping the Vikings become a top-five Defense in Sacks and top-three in Yards Allowed per Game. His ability to disrupt top offensive units like the Detroit Lions over the past year translated into a formidable Speed Rusher… Not to mention his breakout moment against cover athlete Caleb Williams in their respective rookie seasons, where he performed a nasty dip under tackle Darnell Wright to bring the Iceman down nine yards behind scrimmage. 

All this content comes before Game Time is archived on September 24, which marks the end of the program’s Field Pass, limited-time Tug of War Event, access to the Welcome Pack, and availability of Evolutions… But remember that even after this Program is over, Game Time Champion, Hero, and Elite Player Items can still appear in the pool of available Player Items in Packs, and this program’s Sets will still be available alongside other Sets from previous and ongoing Programs.

ICYMI - Game Time Recap

If you took a break to watch the season from the sidelines or need a refresher on what Game Time is all about, we have you covered:

Welcome Pack - Claim Your Free Player Items

Log into Madden Ultimate Team before September 24 to receive the Game Time Welcome Pack, featuring two Player Items that represent forces on both sides of the trenches: LT Kelvin Banks Jr. and DT Kenneth Grant.

Veteran Madden Ultimate Team players may remember them back in Madden NFL 25 as 98 OVR Draft Night Player Items. The former was a Pass Protector with high run block attributes, and the latter was Run Stopper with near-max Power Moves, Pursuit, Hit Power, and Tackling attributes.

Now through the Game Time Program, these two players return as 78 OVR Player Items, which can be upgraded to 87 OVR by completing player objectives and earning those Skill Points. 

Back for their second season, it’s safe to say these two were made for Game Time. Kelvin Banks Jr. went above and beyond in his rookie year by starting all 17 games for the New Orleans Saints, allowing just five sacks and enough protection to be considered by the NFL community as one of the best tackles in the league.

Kenneth Grant, meanwhile, saw the second most snaps for the Miami Dolphins defensive line in a rookie campaign that featured five starts, 30+ tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and one pass deflected. Dolphins fans are looking forward to his return to the field, but until then, he can virtually join your Ultimate Team as your Welcome Pack Player Item pick..

Choose either of these players, then earn Skill Points by completing objectives to upgrade their attributes. Through these upgrades, your choice of Player Item can be upgraded to 87 OVR without any additional Evolutions. Those objectives can be completed in any MUT mode, including Challenges, but remember to include them in your lineup while completing those objectives, even as a backup lineman, otherwise that objective progress won’t track.

Especially if you’re a Saints or Dolphins fan, don’t miss the chance to get these free Player Items before Game Time is archived. And remember, only one of these players can be selected, so choose wisely!

Champions: Winning Chemistry

While every NFL team has their own representative in Game Time, our Champions reflect some of the league’s fiercest breakout athletes whose influence extends out to their entire roster.

At launch, Game Time had four 87 OVR Champions: Nick Bosa, LEDG on the San Francisco 49ers, Kyren Williams, RB on the Los Angeles Rams, George Pickens, WR on the Dallas Cowboys, and rookie Arvell Reese SAM Linebacker on the New York Giants. 

If a Champion Player Item’s team wins a game during the week they are released, they will receive a +1 Speed (SPD) boost.

One example of a Champion Player Item who received this Chemistry boost is LEDG Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers. Originally rated at 87 OVR with several Chemistry slots, including those for the Program and his Team, Bosa now is up to 81 SPD (from 80 SPD) because he and the 49ers beat the Rams down under in Week 1.  

The same applies to the Champions releasing this week; if their team wins in Week 2, they get that Speed attribute boost. Tune into these games and root for your favorite team, or for the Champion you want to receive the Speed boost… we won’t judge:

• James Cook III, RB, Buffalo Bills (vs. Detroit Lions, Sept. 15 release)
• Brian Branch, SS, Detroit Lions (at Buffalo Bills, Sept. 15 release) Kamari Lassiter, CB, Houston Texans (vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sept. 17 release)
• Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (at Houston Texans, Sept. 17 release)
• Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sept. 17 release)
• Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts (at Kansas City Chiefs, Sept. 17 release)

Evolutions (EVOS)

The Game Time 82 OVR Booster Evo - is available by completing Level 16 of the Game Time Field Pass.

Once unlocked, this evolution allows you to boost any 80 OVR Game Time Player to an 82 OVR maximum. Those building a Theme Team or have a particular liking to one of these lower-rated OVR Player Items can use this Evolution to boost their stats across multiple archetypes. As a reminder, this Evolution is non-removable and unchainable, so be sure of your Player Item choice before locking it in!

Clock’s Ticking Event

Luther Burden III is available in the H2H Game Time: Clock’s Ticking Event until September 17. Once the event resets on that date, the Event Reward Player then becomes 87 OVR FS Malaki Starks of the Baltimore Ravens.

Punt away whatever plans you had, here comes Clock’s Ticking.

In this Event, there are no House Rules, just pure football to celebrate the start of the NFL season. However, there are two different versions of this Event for both H2H and vs. CPU play, all of which are completely free to enter:

The “Lineup Restricted” version requires your lineup to have at least three 84+ OVR Game Time Player Items. If you don’t have them, then the “Free” version has zero lineup restrictions and its own rewards. Regardless if you play the H2H “Free” or “Lineup Restricted” Game Time: Clock’s Ticking Event, your final Tier 4 reward at 5 wins will include the Event Reward Players mentioned above.

Clock’s Ticking is also available as a Squads event; invite up to two friends and combine forces to earn rewards. 

Challenges: Clock’s Ticking

Earn Coins, Packs, and that exclusive 84 OVR Dallas Turner Player Item by completing Game Time Solo Challenges. 

Your first objective is to complete 20 Challenges in each major Game Time release based on the new Player Items. Complete those for initial rewards as well as access to a set of harder “Clock’s Ticking” Challenges; these test your Ultimate Team with strict time constraints to complete your objectives. 

When there’s only minutes - or seconds - on the clock, can you and your team rise to the occasion and beat these Clock’s Ticking Challenges? If so, and if all Stars are earned, that Dallas Turner Player Item and additional rewards are yours.

Game Time Sets

An example of an 84 OVR Game Time Champion: O’Cyrus Torrence, RG, Buffalo Bills

Exchange lower OVR Player Items from your team for Game Time Player Items all the way up to a 87 OVR Champion Pack. The Fantasy Pack reward for all Game Time Sets contain one Game Time Player Item of your choice, which can then be used on your team, be traded on the Auction House, or saved for another Set. 

Here are all the Sets, including requirements and rewards, for the Game Time Program:

Those who are familiar with Sets know there are more outside of the Game Time Program that can grant higher OVR Player Items. There are many ways to make use of Player Items that miss the starting cut on your roster, from Uncommon and Elite Player Packs to Fantasy Packs from other Programs… And of course, there are other ways to earn those Player Items, including one directly tied to the Game Time Program:

Field Pass

Your efforts across Game Time’s Challenges, Sets, Events (H2H AND CPU), and overall play out in Madden Ultimate Team all work towards progress in the Game Time Field Pass. Just in the Free Pass, you can earn up to 32,000 Coins, three Game Time Strategy Item Fantasy Packs, multiple BND Game Time Player Items and, of course, that Game Time 82 OVR Evo!

Upgrade to the Premium Pass for 1,000 MP to get the opportunity to earn more rewards, including up to 85,000 additional Coins (for a total of 117,000 Coins across Free and Premium Pass Tiers), more BND Game Time Player Packs, and a 80+ OVR Platinum Player (which Quicksells for Coins) as an Instant Reward.

Five Tips for Game Time

1. DON’T FORGET YOUR WELCOME PLAYER. Log in by September 24 (1:30 p.m. ET) to get either Kelvin Banks Jr. or Kenneth Grant; put them on your roster and earn Skill Points to upgrade their abilities in the trenches.
2. YOUR OBJECTIVES? JUST PLAY MUT. The Game Time Kelvin Banks Jr. or Kenneth Grant Player Item objectives can be done in any MUT mode, including against the CPU in Challenges or the Game Time: Clock’s Ticking CPU event.
3. COMPLETE THOSE CHALLENGES. Every Star is another step towards Coins, Packs, and that exclusive Player Item, let alone being a confidence builder before heading into offline or online games.
4. WARM UP AGAINST THE CPU. Not ready for an Event game against the community? Practice against the CPU to build up some momentum while earning rewards along the way.
5. REMEMBER THOSE SETS. Lower OVR Uncommon Player Items can be exchanged for those of higher OVRs, which are key to completing multiple Game Time Sets.