Blog / CUT 26 Introduces Extra Credit: A New Head-to-Head Gauntlet Mode
July 28, 2025
CUT 26 Introduces Extra Credit: A New Head-to-Head Gauntlet Mode Enter, win, and climb: Extra Credit is CUT’s fresh take on competitive weekly competition
A brand-new competitive mode has landed in CUT 26: Extra Credit. Replacing last year’s Champs format, this weekly head-to-head challenge mode brings a fresh, gauntlet-like approach to earning rewards based on performance and consistency.
🏈 What Is Extra Credit?
- You can enter Extra Credit up to two times per week.
- The mode resets every Thursday at 1:30 PM ET.
- Each attempt ends when you either:
- Win 4 games in a tier (there are 5 progression tiers), or
- Lose 3 games, which eliminates that run—sending you back to Tier I on your next entry.
💰 Rewards Breakdown
- Each win grants 2,000 coins; losses still award 200 coins.
- Tier completion rewards scale up dramatically:
🎁 Extra Credit Rewards Breakdown
Tier I
- 4 Wins: Victory Formation Pack
- 3 Wins: Field Goal Pack
- 2 Wins: Hail Mary Pack
- 1 Win: 4,000 Coins
- 0 Wins: 50 Coins
Tiers II–V
- 4 Wins: Tier-specific upgrades (packs, coins, etc.)
- 3 Wins: Scaled rewards similar to Tier I, but improved
- 2 Wins or fewer: Still grant coins or smaller packs, depending on tier
Reaching higher tiers nets bigger pack rewards and better coins, making consistency critical.
🚀 Why Extra Credit Matters
- Competitive and fair: You earn rewards based on wins without needing to grind indefinitely.
- Accessible entry: Two runs per week adds flexibility and reduces burnout.
- Consistent progression: Even partial runs yield coins—not just full completion.
🔄 How Extra Credit Compares
- Unlike Champs (last year’s format), Extra Credit offers multiple reset opportunities weekly, lowering entry barriers.
- It’s more forgiving, yet still rewards high performance with a tier‑based structure.
- Removes the single-elimination, all-or-nothing pressure.
See more CUT gameplay news, guides, and strategy breakdowns on the 1v1Me blog!