For The First Time Ever, The NFL Will Introduce A Women’s Bracket For An EA Or Madden Tournament

The National Football League projects another record-breaking year since last year’s numbers revealed student player participation tripled compared to 2020.

To amplify their efforts and continue to diversify the world of gaming, a women’s bracket has been added to highlight the growing number of women entering the sector.

“We look forward to inviting back players to the Madden NFL x HBCU tournament, which has become an incredible platform for students to compete in their favorite video game while learning the business of sports at the NFL’s largest event,” said Ed Kiang, VP of Video Gaming at the NFL, according to a press release. “We are proud to expand participation through the first-ever women’s bracket and are thrilled to see so many new and returning partners joining this exciting program.”

What’s more, the EA Sports Madden NFL 23 + HBCU Tournament will provide HBCU students the chance to dive into the business side of sports through practical learning and job shadowing experiences with the National Football League during Super Bowl LVII week in Glendale, AZ.

“We hope the participating students in the Madden NFL 23 x HBCU Tournament can use this experience to further shape their career perspectives in the sports and gaming industry,” said Arthur McAfee, SVP of Football Operations at the NFL, according to a press release.

Registered students will be competing in several online qualifiers, with the first kicking off on Oct. 15 and the final on Nov. 13. In addition, the women’s bracket is scheduled for Oct. 23.

The top 14 finalists will move forward to the Live Finals.

Gamers will have a chance to secure over $70,000 in cash and prizes.