CECC May Madness Heads to Waco, Texas for National Collegiate Esports Championship May 1–3
Waco Convention Center to Host Nation’s Largest Scholastic Gaming Championship, Bringing Over 2,000 Student-Athletes Together as Esports Gains National Recognition Within Collegiate Athletics
Tournament Kicks Off at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium with ‘Thursday Night Lights’ Opening Ceremony and Exhibition Match
STAMFORD, CT — November 25, 2025 — EsportsU, the esports division of Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG), today announced that the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) May Madness, the nation’s largest intercollegiate competitive gaming tournament, will host its sixth official championship event in Texas at the Waco Convention Center on May 1–3, 2026.
May Madness is the premier multi-title, multi-conference collegiate esports championship, uniting the top teams and student-athletes from across the country to compete for CECC National Championship titles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, Overwatch, VALORANT, NBA 2K, and more. As the culmination of a year-long competitive season, May Madness represents the championship pathway for 25 official conference partners and 800+ colleges and universities across Divisions I, II, and III—standing as the defining national stage for collegiate esports.
This year’s May Madness championship weekend will welcome a record-setting 2,000+ student-athletes competing across three full days. The event is being organized in partnership with PlayVS College League (“PCL”), who will be hosting their 2026 Spring Championship on-site. The action begins on April 30 at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium with Thursday Night Lights—a new opening tradition inside the iconic venue known for hosting world-class sports and entertainment. The evening will feature an opening jersey ceremony, live local entertainment, a high-school showcase match, and a player-and-coach social mixer, officially kicking off a championship weekend designed to mirror the pageantry, pride, and tradition of major college athletics.
Beyond the competition, CECC May Madness 2026 will feature a festival-style weekend experience with cosplay showcases, food trucks, trading card game tournaments, an artists’ alley, creator meet-and-greets, a college recruiting fair, high school talent combines, educational panels, and more. The result is a dynamic, youth-driven event designed to attract Gen Z audiences from across Texas and deliver an unforgettable weekend of competition, culture, and community to the city of Waco.
“The growth we’re seeing—across conferences, universities, and student participation—shows just how fast scholastic esports is accelerating,” said Angela Bernhard Thomas, Chief Esports Officer at CSMG. “Esports and gaming have become recruitment engines, retention drivers, and a direct line to the next generation. CECC May Madness gives conferences a national stage to showcase their talent and embrace esports as a nationally recognized part of the modern collegiate athletics landscape.”
After three years in Arlington, CECC May Madness 2026 will relocate to the Waco Convention Center, where the 144,000-square-foot venue will transform into a multi-stage esports arena with high-level competition, fan experiences, and partner activations. Waco’s blend of college-town energy, Texas hospitality, and a walkable downtown—paired with its central location and growing convention district—make it an ideal host city for competitors and fans traveling from across North America.
“We’re thrilled to welcome CECC May Madness to Waco and build on the event’s roots in Texas,” said Mike Vogelaar, Executive Director of the Greater Waco Sports Commission. “The event represents not only a growing chapter in collegiate sports, but a significant opportunity to showcase our city as a hub for innovation, community, and next-generation entertainment.”
CECC May Madness provides a national competitive framework now inclusive of 25 official conference partners, who are collectively awarded 106 auto-qualifying bids to the 2026 championship. The structure echoes the formative years of collegiate athletics, offering universities a clear and credible model for organized esports competition.
The conferences joining CECC May Madness 2026 are included in the graphic above.
The 2025 edition of May Madness drew more than 5,000 live attendees. Online, the event drew more than 5M livestream viewers across Twitch and creator channels—a 27% viewership increase from the year prior. The event also hosted national brand activations from partners including McDonald’s, Cisco, the U.S. Army, Sour Punch, and Red Bull—showcasing how CECC has become a proven platform for brands to reach the next generation of fans at the intersection of technology, entertainment, and education.
With the 2026 season, CECC May Madness is positioned to further elevate its cultural and commercial impact, creating meaningful engagement for schools, sponsors, and student-athletes alike. The continued expansion of its conference-supported structure and steady year-over-year growth signal an unprecedented level of alignment within collegiate esports—opening the door to future innovation across areas such as NIL, performance data, and competitive development.
More information about May Madness 2026, including where to watch, how to purchase tickets, and more will be released in the coming months. For more information and to stay up-to-date, please visit: http://collegiatesmg.com/
For sponsorship and distribution partnerships, contact: info@collegiatesmg.com
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About Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG)
Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) is an integrated sports, entertainment, and media company committed to advancing traditional sports and esports. CSMG offers 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.
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