Keiser University has made a big splash in esports, winning the 2026 Sun Conference Esports Championship. They have claimed the All-Titles Trophy with strong performances in Rocket League, Overwatch 2, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The format of the Sun Conference esports competition includes a regular season and postseason tournaments for each game. Teams earn points for their overall performance, with the best finishers in each game getting rewarded: champions earn four points, runners-up get three, third place gets two, and fourth place earns one. To compete for the All-Titles Trophy, teams must play in at least two of the three games.
Keiser University gathered a total of seven points in the tournaments—finishing as the runner-up in Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, each earning three points, and placing fourth in Overwatch 2 for an extra point.
In the Rocket League tournament, Keiser started strong as the No. 2 seed, getting a bye in the first round. They fought their way to the finals with a nail-biting 3-2 win over Texas A&M-Texarkana but ultimately finished as the runner-up. In Overwatch 2, they kicked off the tournament with a swift 3-0 victory against Southeastern before losing in the semifinals. For Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, they entered as the No. 3 seed and defeated Southeastern and New College of Florida (both 2-0) to reach the championship match.
Notably, individual titles were awarded to other teams. Loyola New Orleans took home the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate title for the second year in a row. SCAD Atlanta won the Overwatch 2 championship, and Warner claimed the Rocket League title, edging out Keiser with a score of 4-1.
It’s interesting to note that while Warner and Loyola performed well in their respective games, neither was eligible for the All-Titles Trophy because they didn’t compete in enough titles. Warner participated in Rocket League only, while Loyola focused solely on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
As esports continues to grow, more universities are investing in their programs. A recent report from Newzoo indicated that esports viewership is set to reach 646 million globally by 2023, showing just how popular competitive gaming has become. This growth is reflected in collegiate competitions, where students are increasingly passionate about forming teams and competing.
The Sun Conference esports scene is expected to evolve even further as schools engage in additional tournaments and partnerships throughout the 2025–26 season. Keep an eye on this exciting field as it develops!
