Zach Bryan and Gavin Adcock Set to Cross Paths Again at Madden Bowl 2026 After Luke Combs Drops Out

Zach Bryan has just been unveiled as the new headliner for EA Sports’ Madden Bowl 2026 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, after Luke Combs was forced to drop out.

Combs was originally announced at the top of the bill last month, but in a new post shared via the official EA Sports socials, the esports firm has confirmed that the ’Beer Never Broke My Heart’ hitmaker has had to withdraw, due to having a baby on the way.

In the caption, the hosts explain that Combs will be staying with his wife, Nicole, as she prepares to give birth to their third child, “Update: Luke has to hold it down at home with a new one on the way”, adding, “All love for Luke and his family — and we can’t wait to put on an unforgettable #MaddenBowl with [Zach Bryan] leading an incredible night of music and football for the fans”. Combs has expressed his regret at missing the birth of his second son, Beau, due to being in Australia, so we're sure fans will understand why he needs to be home this time around.

Bryan's introduction to the 2026 Madden Bowl line-up does, however, add an amusing new dynamic to the esports event, due to the ‘Something in the Orange’ singer-songwriter's mortal enemy, Gavin Adcock, also appearing on the star-studded bill.

Bryan and Adcock nearly came to blows at Born & Raised Festival in the former's home-state of Oklahoma last October, with Bryan scaling a fence to confront Adcock. The duo have continued sparring online with various thinly veiled barbs and digs, the latest of which revolved around Bryan's comments on AI in country music.

Perhaps Madden Bowl 2026, which also features Teddy Swims, Stephen Wilson Jr. and LaRussell, will provide a golden opportunity for the two artists to make peace and surprise the world with a duet, especially given Bryan's sobriety and the fact that Adcock hasn't been quite as antagonistic on socials of late. But given the intensity of their online disputes last year, we sadly think this is a long shot.

Madden Bowl 2026, which takes place on Friday, February 6th, will see top gamers pitted against one another, with a $1 million prize up for grabs. It serves as a precursor to the Super Bowl LX in nearby Santa Clara later that week, on Sunday, February 8th.

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