The Biggest Collegiate Esports Championship Moves to a New Texas Home

The Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup, better known as CECC May Madness, is gearing up for its biggest year yet. EsportsU and the Collegiate Sports Management Group have confirmed that the 2026 edition of the championship will take place in Waco, Texas, from May 1 to 3.
The move marks a fresh chapter for the event, which has spent the last three years in Arlington.

CECC May Madness is widely regarded as the premier multi-title collegiate esports championship in North America. It brings together the best student players from more than 800 colleges and universities across Divisions I, II, and III, all competing for national titles in games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, Overwatch, VALORANT, NBA 2K, and more.

With its growing scale and cultural impact, CECC May Madness has become a key event in the competitive gaming calendar for student-athletes across the country.

A Record-Breaking Year for Student Esports

Next year’s championship weekend is set to be the biggest in CECC history. Organisers expect more than 2,000 student-athletes to take part across three full days of competition.

The event is being run in partnership with the PlayVS College League, which will host its 2026 Spring Championship inside the same venue. Both groups have been working closely to build a unified calendar and give collegiate players a proper national pathway.

The action officially begins on April 30 with Thursday Night Lights, a new opening night tradition at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium. The evening will include a jersey presentation, live entertainment, a high school showcase match, and a social event for players and coaches.

Organisers say the goal is to bring the pageantry of traditional college sports into the world of esports, creating an atmosphere that feels just as competitive and just as meaningful for the students taking part.

A Festival Weekend for Fans and the Local Community

The championship is not just a competition. CECC May Madness 2026 will deliver a full festival-style weekend for fans, students, and local visitors.

Across the Waco Convention Center’s 144,000 square feet, attendees will find:

• Cosplay showcases
• Food trucks
• Trading card game tournaments
• An artists’ alley
• Creator meet-and-greets
• A college recruiting fair
• High school esports combines
• Educational panels

The event aims to create a welcoming environment for Gen Z audiences and families while turning Waco into a temporary hub for gaming and youth culture.

Mike Vogelaar, Executive Director of the Greater Waco Sports Commission, says the city is ready to embrace its new role.

“We’re thrilled to welcome CECC May Madness to Waco and build on the event’s roots in Texas,” Vogelaar said. “It’s a major opportunity to showcase our city as a hub for innovation, community, and next-generation entertainment.”

A New Home With Big Potential

The shift from Arlington to Waco marks the first venue change in several years, and organisers say the city offers the right mix of accessibility and atmosphere.

The convention centre will be transformed into a multi-stage esports arena filled with competition spaces, fan experiences, and exhibitor activations. Organisers chose Waco for its central location, walkable downtown district, and strong college-town identity.

2026 also marks the sixth official edition of CECC May Madness, which has steadily grown since its founding in 2022. Last year’s event drew more than 5,000 in-person attendees and over 5 million livestream viewers, a 27 percent jump from the previous year. It has also attracted major sponsors including McDonald’s, Cisco, the U.S. Army, Sour Punch, and Red Bull.

The growth reflects the wider rise of collegiate esports in the United States. Throughout 2025, universities continued expanding their programmes, while brands like Alienware and Samsung pushed deeper into collegiate tournaments and partnerships.

A Defined Pathway for Hundreds of Schools

For 2026, CECC May Madness will continue its conference-based qualification system.
Twenty-five official conference partners will receive a total of 106 auto-qualifying bids for the championship, giving institutions a clear competitive structure similar to traditional sports pathways.

According to CSMG, this system is helping shape the future of college esports by giving schools a national framework they can trust. It also opens doors for future developments, including NIL opportunities, performance analytics, and long-term competitive growth.

Angela Bernhard Thomas, Chief Esports Officer at CSMG, says the momentum is clear.

“The growth we’re seeing across conferences, universities, and student participation shows just how fast scholastic esports is accelerating,” she said. “CECC May Madness gives conferences a national stage to showcase their talent and embrace esports as a recognised part of the collegiate athletics landscape.”

More details about ticketing, livestream schedules, and on-site activities will be shared in the coming months.

The post CECC May Madness Heads to Texas in 2026, Bringing Over 2,000 Collegiate Esports Players Together appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Bridging Education and Esports

Shenandoah University Esports has officially partnered with Gen.G Esports, marking a major step in connecting education with the global gaming industry. The partnership will offer students hands-on experience, mentorship, and international learning opportunities designed to prepare them for careers in esports.

Global Learning With Gen.G

Through this collaboration, Shenandoah students will gain access to real-world industry professionals for advice, experiential learning, and career support. One of the biggest highlights is a Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Trip to South Korea, where students will work directly with mentors at Gen.G’s headquarters on real-world projects.

“This partnership will allow our students to gain access to real-world industry professionals to seek advice, experiential learning opportunities, and support as they transition from their educational journey to careers,” said Alyssa Duran, Esports Director at Shenandoah University. “I am most excited for our students to engage in a Global Experiential Learning Trip to South Korea in which students will partner with industry mentors on a real-world project at Gen.G’s headquarters.”

A Growing Academic Alliance

The partnership builds upon Shenandoah’s previous collaborations with Gen.G, including the Gen.G Practicum Abroad programme, ChallengHER Summit, Gaming Leaders of Tomorrow, and several Campus Takeover events. This expanded partnership aims to enhance academic offerings, increase professional development opportunities, and give students new global experiences through travel and cultural exchange.

Gen.G’s Continued Focus on Education

Gen.G has long been known for investing in education and youth development through gaming. Beyond its professional teams, the organisation has established numerous academic initiatives under the Gen.G Foundation and through partnerships with universities worldwide.

In recent months, Gen.G joined forces with McDonald’s for a Campus Takeover at Marymount University, and teamed up with Manchester University for a three-week esports ecosystem course in Seoul. These programmes reflect the organisation’s mission to help fans and students alike use gaming to advance both in and beyond competition.

Recognising Shenandoah’s Esports Leadership

Launched in 2018, Shenandoah University’s esports programme has quickly become one of the leading collegiate esports initiatives in the United States. The programme earned four awards at the 2025 National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Convention, highlighting its innovative approach to combining academics with the fast-growing esports sector.

Building the Future of Esports Education

With its continued emphasis on education, inclusivity, and international collaboration, Gen.G’s partnership with Shenandoah University sets a new standard for what esports education can achieve. Together, they’re helping shape a new generation of gaming professionals ready to lead the industry’s next chapter.

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A Global Classroom for Esports

Manchester University in Indiana, USA, has announced a partnership with South Korean esports powerhouse Gen.G Esports to join the organisation’s Practicum Abroad programme, a three-week study trip that lets students learn directly from esports professionals while exploring Korea’s gaming culture.

🚨PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT!!🚨

Manchester University Esports officially partners with esports organization @GenG to provide discounted travel and individual cohorts for Gen.G’s Practicum Abroad program in Seoul, South Korea!!

For more info, see the link in comments!! pic.twitter.com/D2Qxt2roJ1

— Manchester Esports (@MU_esport) October 9, 2025

The programme, one of Gen.G’s most ambitious initiatives, offers participants a rare chance to travel to Seoul and gain hands-on insight into the world of professional gaming. Over the course of the trip, students will take part in mentorship sessions with industry experts, attend “lunch-and-learn” events, visit top esports organisations and game publisher studios, and discover Korea’s rich gaming history and culture.

“This is our most ambitious programme since the launch of our Gen.G Practicum Abroad programme,” said Arnold Hur, CEO of Gen.G. “The students will be fully immersed in Korea with hands-on experiences to give them a 360-degree view of the esports industry.”

From the Classroom to the Esports Arena

According to Manchester University’s Director of Esports, Garrett Schieferstein, the partnership reflects the university’s growing commitment to preparing students for global careers in competitive gaming.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with such an amazing esports organisation like Gen.G to provide our students here at Manchester with an amazing opportunity to travel to Seoul and learn the esports industry from the best in the business,” said Schieferstein.

He added that this collaboration offers “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn more about esports on a global scale and experience South Korean esports and culture.”

Students looking to enrol must be part of a four-year accredited university programme (US or international) for the 2024/2025 or 2025/2026 academic year. The course costs $5,450 (around £4,100), not including airfare or dinners.

Esports Education on the Rise

The partnership between Manchester University and Gen.G is part of a wider movement where universities around the world are integrating esports into higher education. In 2025, institutions have been expanding their engagement with the gaming industry, offering everything from collegiate tournaments to specialised esports programmes.

Earlier this year, the University of Limerick teamed up with Logitech in a €2.5 million research project to study gamers’ habits, while Middle Tennessee State University introduced dedicated esports concentrations on its campuses. Similarly, the University of Suffolk has announced plans for new esports facilities.

With the esports job market growing rapidly, and reports showing that one in four young boys in the UK now aspire to work in the industry, opportunities like Gen.G’s Practicum Abroad could play a key role in shaping the next generation of gaming professionals.

The post Manchester University Partners with Gen.G for Esports Study Trip to South Korea appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

DreamHack Atlanta 2025 is coming to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, with a jam-packed festival running from 31 October to 2 November 2025. Fans can expect over ten tournaments across multiple esports genres, seven world champions crowned, and more than $6.6 million USD in prize money. Here’s everything happening at this year’s event.

Key Esports Events

• SNK World Championship – 21 October to 7 November
  Featuring Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, The King of Fighters XV, Samurai Shodown, and The Art of Fighting 3, the SNK World Championship boasts a $4.1 million USD prize pool and includes a last-chance qualifier for newcomers.
• Marvel Rivals Ignite Grand Finals – 27 October to 2 November
  The highlight of the weekend is the Marvel Rivals Ignite Grand Finals with a $1 million USD prize pool, bringing the world’s best teams together for the premier tournament in the Marvel Rivals circuit.
• EA Sports College Football 26 DreamHack Challenge – 31 October to 1 November
  512 players will compete in this open tournament for a $25,000 USD prize pool, marking a major expansion for EA Sports’ college football esports scene.
• FC Pro Open Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) – 31 October to 1 November
  A 256-player bracket will battle for four spots advancing to the FC Pro Open, leading into the Global Qualifier.
• FC Pro Open Global Qualifier – 1 to 2 November
  The 16 winners from the Global Qualifier secure their place in the weekly FC Pro Open competition.
• Clash of Clans World Championship Finals – 31 October to 2 November
  For the first time in the US, Clash of Clans will host its World Championship Finals, giving mobile esports fans a chance to watch top-tier action live.
• Clash Royale League World Finals – 31 October to 2 November
  Supercell also brings the Clash Royale League World Finals, completing the mobile esports lineup.
• Rainbow Six Siege X Atlanta – 31 October to 2 November
  An eight-team tournament will take place in the Freeplay area, with the top two teams advancing to the Main Stage for a $10,000 USD prize pool.
• DreamHack Knockout (Counter-Strike 2) – 31 October to 2 November
  Casual and pro teams can compete for a $10,000 USD prize pool and a spot in ESL Pro League Season 23.
• DreamHack Collegiate Invitational – 31 October to 2 November
  16 Rocket League and VALORANT collegiate teams will battle in the Freeplay arena for recognition and glory.

Tickets for DreamHack Atlanta

Tickets are available now via the official DreamHack Atlanta website:

• 3-day pass from $79 USD
• Friday single-day pass (31 October) from $39 USD
• Saturday single-day pass (1 November) from $49 USD
• Sunday single-day pass (2 November) from $45 USD

Premium packages offer extra perks for fans wanting the full DreamHack experience.

Why DreamHack Atlanta 2025 is unmissable

Beyond esports, DreamHack Atlanta features cosplay, fan art, interactive experiences, and community activities, making it more than just a competitive festival. From Marvel Rivals to collegiate esports, there’s something for every gamer to enjoy.

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