Madden 26 is just around the corner, and EA Sports has made several major changes that are already shaking up the way the game will be played. Whether you’re a Madden Ultimate Team grinder, franchise player, or casual online competitor, you’ll want to understand these removals and nerfs before kickoff.
From broken mechanics like the double pass glitch to major tweaks in abilities, pass coverage, and stamina, here’s a breakdown of what’s no longer in Madden 26—and how it may affect your gameplay.
Double Pass Glitch Removed
The infamous double pass glitch that plagued Madden 25 is finally gone in Madden 26. This exploit allowed players to throw two passes in one play, completely confusing the defense and often leading to unstoppable touchdowns.
In Madden 26’s beta, this has been patched. The defense now properly recognizes the play, and defenders no longer overcommit to the first receiver. EA didn’t officially mention it in their patch notes—likely to prevent accidental reintroduction before launch—but rest assured, this exploit has been quietly removed.
Key Takeaway: No more free touchdowns from glitchy trick plays.
Streak Routes Replaced with Fade Routes
In a surprising change, streak routes have been replaced with fade routes by default. Because all quarterbacks in Madden 26 come equipped with Hot Route Master, the original go routes are gone—at least in custom hot routes.
This changes the way deep threats are used. Fades are slower to develop and may require different timing and adjustments.
Key Takeaway: If you rely on traditional streaks for one-play touchdowns, you’ll need to adapt.
Baseline Defense Removed
The baseline pre-snap defensive alignment has been removed. This will mostly impact players who loved manually resetting their defense to throw off opponents or disguise coverage.
However, EA has introduced smarter defensive packages that make your formations look how you want them to—whether you’re playing Cover 3, Cover 4, or Man-to-Man. This brings Madden 26 closer to College Football 25’s defensive customization system.
Key Takeaway: Defensive disguises are still possible—but baseline adjustments are gone.
Ability Effectiveness Nerfed – Only 50% Chance to Trigger
EA Sports has officially confirmed that abilities in Madden 26 now have a 50% chance of activating. While this nerf was quietly rolled out in previous versions, it’s now an explicit part of the gameplay system.
This affects all ability users—whether you’re in Ultimate Team or regs (regular teams). Madden 20 was the peak of abilities always working, but now, randomness plays a major role.
Franchise leagues may turn off abilities altogether, but for MUT players, this means building your team around specific abilities is riskier than ever.
Key Takeaway: Abilities can’t be relied on like before—expect more unpredictability in every matchup.
Stamina Recovery & Wear and Tear System
One of the most controversial updates: stamina recovery has been removed, and wear-and-tear is now in full effect. That means once a player is tired or takes a big hit, they could stay fatigued for the entire game.
This also increases the chances of fumbles, dropped passes, and overall poor performance. Backups are now more important than ever, especially in Ultimate Team, where you may need full depth charts at each position to avoid losing key matchups.
Key Takeaway: Roster depth is critical—invest in quality backups to avoid game-breaking fatigue penalties.
EA Sports is clearly shifting Madden 26 to favor realism, strategy, and team depth over arcade-style dominance and one-man offenses. While these changes may frustrate long-time players used to exploits and fast-paced gameplay, they open the door for more competitive and balanced matches.
If you’re a MUT player, now is the time to start preparing your team strategy, buy Madden 26 Coins on U4GM, and build a roster that can handle the new wear-and-tear mechanics. Keep an eye out for weather effects and possible snow games in Ultimate Team as well.
