Overwatch’s collegiate scene is back for the 2025–2026 school year, and it’s looking bigger than ever. Blizzard has teamed up with the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) to revamp the programme, bringing in fresh competition formats, a new varsity division, a live LAN finals, and over $140,000 USD in scholarship prizing.
If you’re a student in the US or Canada who’s keen to compete, now’s the time to get your team together. Whether you’re running with a group of mates from campus or representing your school’s official varsity line-up, there’s a place for you this season.
How the Programme Works
The Overwatch Collegiate circuit is split into two semesters of play:
- Fall Homecoming 2025
- Spring Championship 2026
Players can compete in one of two main divisions:
- National Open – Open to any eligible institution in the US and Canada, perfect for friends, clubs, or schools with multiple rosters.
- Varsity – Exclusive to NACE member schools, with stricter requirements like on-campus esports facilities and only one team per school.
For NACE schools, there’s also Varsity Plus, which lets you enter extra teams in skill-based divisions.
Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
Fall Homecoming 2025 – Key Dates
- Varsity Premier – Starts 8 September 2025 (Registration closes 2 September)
- Varsity Plus – Starts 15 September 2025 (Registration closes 8 September)
- National Open – Starts 2 October 2025 (Registration closes 22 September)
Each competition runs through its regular season before heading into high-stakes playoffs, with scholarship money on the line. The Fall Homecoming alone has a combined $42,000 USD prize pool.
Spring Championship 2026
After Fall wraps up, the Spring Championship kicks off with a live LAN finals and a massive $100,000 USD in scholarships. More details will be announced later in the year, but it’s shaping up to be the big stage every team will want to reach.
Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
How to Sign Up
- Check your eligibility – You’ll need to be enrolled at an eligible school in the US or Canada. Varsity teams must be from NACE member schools.
- Create a LeagueSpot account – Sign up with your verified student email. If your school’s email domain isn’t in LeagueSpot’s system yet, there’s a form to get it verified.
- Choose your division – Open, Varsity Premier, or Varsity Plus (if eligible).
Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
Register before the deadline – Don’t miss the cut-off dates above.
Why You Should Join
Aside from the prize money, players get exclusive Overwatch Collegiate rewards like sprays, name cards, and player icons.
Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment
More importantly, it’s a chance to build skills, represent your school, and be part of a growing esports community.
If you’re ready to make big plays and bigger memories, now’s the time to lock in your spot. Gather your teammates, register, and get set for a season of intense collegiate Overwatch competition.
You can follow updates and watch matches on Overwatch Esports and NACEsports channels across Twitch and YouTube.
You can read more about the Overwatch Collegiate programme and full competition details at Blizzard’s official announcement here