2026 CECC MAY MADNESS LIVE FROM WACO, TEXAS FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
College Esports’ Biggest Stage Arrives May 1–3 at the Waco Convention Center
2,000+ Student Competitors, Championship Dreams, and Future Careers on the Line
STAMFORD, Conn. – April 23, 2026 – The Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) May Madness, the nation’s largest collegiate esports championship event, returns to Texas May 1–3 at the Waco Convention Center in Waco, Texas, bringing the energy, pageantry, and pressure of college championship season to the fastest-growing arena in student competition.
Produced by Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG), CECC May Madness serves as the national postseason destination for collegiate esports—where conference champions, rising programs, and elite student competitors from across the country converge to compete for CECC National Titles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, Overwatch, VALORANT, NBA 2K, and more.
Much like March championship weekends in traditional college athletics, CECC May Madness represents the culmination of a full competitive year, with teams advancing through conference play, regional competition, and national qualification pathways. More than 800 colleges and universities across Divisions I, II, and III are represented through CECC’s ecosystem and conference partner structure.
More than 2,000 student competitors are expected in Waco for three days of live competition, championship moments, school pride, and campus culture. The event will also host the PlayVS College League Spring Championship on-site, while the Texas Undisputed High School Championship brings the next generation of talent to compete alongside college programs.
Championship Week officially begins on April 30 with Thursday Night Lights at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium—a high-energy opening ceremony featuring live entertainment, showcase competition, student mixers, and a celebration of the schools, players, coaches, and communities powering collegiate gaming.
Beyond competition, CECC May Madness has become a career-launching platform for students pursuing the business of sports and gaming. Students will gain hands-on experience in broadcast production, event operations, networking infrastructure, content creation, hospitality, sponsorship activation, and tournament administration through live experiential programs hosted during championship weekend.
Tickets for CECC May Madness 2026, starting at $10 for an all-day pass, are available at: https://tickettree.us/events/cecc-may%20madness
Fans can also watch live on the official CECC Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/esportsu
Coverage runs Friday and Saturday, May 1–2 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST, and Sunday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST.
Partners for this year’s event include ASUS, Cisco, Baylor University, Crit Apparel, Esport Supply, Extron, eBliss, Gamerplug, Legends Global, PlayVS, TexSef, TPID, Urban One, Verum, Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Waco Convention Center.
“CECC May Madness has become the championship season moment for collegiate esports—where school pride, elite competition, and national recognition all come together on one stage,” said Angela Bernhard Thomas, Chief Esports Officer at CSMG. “For our student competitors, this is an opportunity to represent their universities and chase titles in front of a national audience. Just as importantly, it is a real-world training ground where students can gain experience in broadcasting, technology, operations, and event management—career pathways that are shaping the future of sports and entertainment.”
After three successful years in Arlington, the event moves to Waco, where the Waco Convention Center will transform into a multi-stage championship arena featuring live matches, fan experiences, school pride zones, sponsor activations, and immersive community programming. The 2025 event attracted more than 5,000 attendees.
About CSMG
Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) is an integrated sports, entertainment, and media company committed to advancing traditional sports and esports. The company has expertise in Media Rights, Analytics, Licensing, Sponsorship Sales, Brand Building, Original Content, and Event Production. We empower sports properties, brands, and video game publishers to succeed at the crossroads of tech, sports, entertainment, and video games. Through innovation, efficiency and execution, CSMG has created transformative opportunities, driving growth in traditional sports while unifying and elevating the scholastic esports ecosystem. To learn more, visit us at https://collegiatesmg.com/.
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Contact:
Carmine N. Tiso for CSMG, csmgnews@collegiatesmg.com or 917.453.4296
