Skip to main content
Esports competitor focuses on the game.

Competitive Esports

If you think you have what it takes to represent Illinois State University at the highest level of collegiate esports, fill out our interest form to be notified of tryouts for our varsity titles.

Tryout for a Varsity Esports Team

A Redbird Esports varsity team represents the highest level of competitive esports offered at Illinois State University. Players are recruited from all around the world to come and represent Redbird Esports in intercollegiate competitions. Most varsity team players rank in the top .01% of a game's player base.

Currently, Redbird Esports offers League of Legends, Rocket League, and Overwatch as varsity titles. Don't see your game or not quite ready for varsity level yet? Check out our Redbird Gaming clubs to find a team you can hone your skills with!

Current Varsity Titles

League of Legends logo

Schedule

  • College League of Legends

College League of Legends - Regular Season

College League of Legends is the competitive League of Legends season hosted by Riot Games

Sat., Jan. 27 vs Illinois Institute of Technology 3 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Fri., Feb. 2 vs Bethany Lutheran 7 p.m. Win 2 - 1

Fri., Feb. 9 vs Dakokta State University 7 p.m. Win FF

Fri., Feb. 16 vs Washington University in St. Louis 5 p.m. Win 2 - 0 

Wed., Feb. 21 vs The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 7 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Sat., Mar. 2 vs Purdue University 3 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Mon., Mar. 4 vs Manchester University 7:30 p.m. Win 2 - 0

 

College League of Legends - Playoffs

Sat., Mar. 16 vs University of North Dakota 3 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Sat., Mar. 23 vs Purdue University 1 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Sat., Apr. 6 vs Maryville University 3 p.m. Lose 0 - 3

Sat., Apr. 13 vs Northwood University 3 pm. Lose 2 - 3

College League of Legends - Championship

Sat., Apr. 27 vs Grand View University Lose 0 - 2

  • NECC League

National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) - Legends Division

NECC is an organization that hosts competitive leagues for colleges and universities across the U.S.

Wed., Jan. 31 vs Fisher College 6 p.m. FF Win

Wed., Feb. 7 vs University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 6 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Wed., Feb. 14 vs University of California, Santa Cruz 8:45 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Mon., Feb 26 vs University of Toronto Mississauga 5 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Wed., Feb 28 vs The Ohio State University 5 p.m. Win 2 - 1

Wed., Mar. 6 BYE

Wed., Mar. 13 BYE

Conference Playoffs

Tues., Mar. 19 vs Juniata College 7 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Wed., Mar. 20 vs Grand Valley University 7 p.m. Lose 1-2

Tues., Mar. 26 vs Oklahoma Christian University 7 p.m. Lose 1 - 2

  • North American Challengers League Open Qualifiers

Spring Open Qualifier 1 - Round Robin

North American Challengers League is an Amaetur League hosted by Riot Games.

Sat., Jan. 20 vs RelumniateGG Loss 0 - 1

Sat., Jan. 20 vs Cosa Gamers Win 1 - 0 

Sun., Jan. 21 vs Purdue University Northwest Win 1 - 0 

Sun., Jan. 21 vs Gentle Hearts Gaming Loss 0 -1 

Sun., Jan. 21 vs GMAE Win 1 - 0 

Top 16

Sun., Jan. 28 vs Lotus Win 2 -1 

Sun., Feb. 4 vs Wang Win 2 - 0

Top 8

Sun., Feb. 11Quarterfinals vs University of Mississippi Loss 1 - 2 


Spring Open Qualifier 2 - Round Robin

Sat., Feb. 24 vs Nigel's Last Tiles Win 1 - 0

Sat., Feb. 24 vs Gentle Hearts Gaming Lose 0 - 1

Sun., Feb. 25 vs The University of Colorado Boulder Win 1 - 0

Sun., Feb. 25 vs ReluminateGG Lose 0 - 1

Sun., Feb. 25 vs Misfits Win 1 - 0

Top 16

Sat., Mar. 2 vs Pulse Star Lose 0 - 2

Sat., Mar. 9 vs Nigel's Last Tiles Lose 1 - 2

 

 

Overwatch logo

Schedule

  • Blizzard Collegiate Championship

This is a swiss tournament, opponents will be decided based off of the previous weeks matches. Generally not released until a few days before.

 

Sat., Mar. 30 vs University of San Francisco 1 p.m. Win - FF

Sat., Mar. 30 vs Utah Valley University 2:30 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Sat., Apr. 6 vs Toronto Metropolitan University 1 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Sat., Apr. 6 vs University of Illinois Urbana-Champagin 2:30 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Sat., Apr. 13 vs Arizona State University 1 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Sat., Apr. 13 vs Boise State University 2:30 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Sat., Apr. 20 vs Northwood University 1 p.m. Loss 0 - 2

Sat., Apr. 20 vs Fisher College 2:30 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Sat., Apr. 27 vs North Texas 1 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Sat., Apr. 27 vs Penn State University 2:30 p.m. Win - FF

Sun., Apr. 28 vs University of Delaware 1:00 p.m. Win - FF

Sun., Apr. 28 vs Grand Canyon University 2:30 p.m. Win 3 - 1

Sat., May 4 vs University of Minnesota 1:00 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Sat., May 4 vs University of Wisconsin - Madison 2:30 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Sat., May 5 vs University of Utah 1:00 p.m. Win 3 - 1

Championship Bracket

Fri., May 10 vs University of California, Irvine 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Fri., May 10 vs Maryville University 8:30 p.m. Lose 1 - 3

Sun., May 12 vs Arizona State University 1 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Fri., May 17 vs Fisher College 7 p.m.

  • Missouri Valley Conference

Missouri Valley Conference - Regular Season

The Missouri Valley Conference hosts a competitive league for their member institutions.

Wed., Feb. 21 vs Valparaiso University 7 p.m. Win 2 - 0 

Wed., Feb. 28 vs Bradley University 7 p.m. Win 2 - 0

Wed., Mar. 6 vs Missouri State 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Wed., Mar. 20 BYE

Tues., Mar. 26 vs University of Evansville 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Wed., Apr. 3 vs Southern Illinois University 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Wed., Apr. 10 vs Belmont University 7 p.m. Win - FF

MVC Playoffs and LAN Event

Sat., Apr. 20 vs University of Evansville Win 3 - 0

Sat., Apr. 20 vs Bradley University Win 3 - 0

  • NACE Starleague

National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) - Varsity Premier Regular Season

NACE is a nonprofit membership association that hosts competitive leagues for colleges and universities across the U.S.

Tues., Jan. 30 BYE

Wed., Feb. 6 vs Rcokford University 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0 

Tues., Feb. 13 vs Rowan University 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0 

Tues., Feb. 20 vs Texas A&M University San Antonio 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0 

Tues., Feb. 27 vs Edgewood College 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Tues., Mar. 5 vs Wichita State University 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Tues., Mar. 12 vs Western Kentucky University 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Varsity Premier Playoffs

Tues., Apr. 2 vs Oakland University 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Sat., Apr. 6 vs Columbia International University 7:30 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Sat., Apr. 9 vs  Blinn College 7:30 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Sat., Apr. 27 vs Maryville University 1 p.m. Win 3 - 1

  • NECC League

National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) - Legends Division

NECC is an organization that hosts competitive leagues for colleges and universities across the U.S.

Thur., Feb. 1 vs Fisher College 7 p.m. Win 3 - 1 

Thur., Feb. 8 vs University of California San Diego 8 p.m. Win FF 

Thur., Feb. 15 vs Northwood University 7 p.m. Loss 2 - 3 

Tues., Feb 20. vs Converse University 7:30 p.m. Win 3 - 0 

Thurs., Feb. 29 vs University of California, Irvine 10:44 a.m. Win FF

Thurs., Mar. 7 vs Bryant & Stratton College 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Thurs., Mar. 14 vs Southern New Hampshire University 6:17 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Conference Playoffs

Thurs., Mar. 21 vs Fisher College 5:45 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Fri., Mar. 22 vs Winthrop University 8 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Thurs., Apr. 4 vs Fisher College  8 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Thurs., Apr. 11 vs Northwood University 8 p.m. Lose  0 - 4

 

Rocket League logo

Schedule

  • Collegiate Rocket League

Psyonix hosted Rocket League season for collegiate esports in North America.

  • Missouri Valley Conference

Missouri Valley Conference - Regular Season

The Missouri Valley Conference hosts a competitive league for their member institutions.

Tues., Feb. 20 BYE

Tues., Feb. 27 vs Bradley University 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Fri., Mar 22 vs Valparaiso University 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Fri., Mar. 22 vs Murray State University 8 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Tues., Mar. 26 vs University of Evansville 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Tues., Apr. 2 vs Southern Illinois University 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Tues., Apr. 9 vs Missouri State University 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

MVC Playoffs and LAN Event

Sat., Apr. 27 vs Bradley University Win 4 - 0

Sat., Apr. 27 vs Southern Illinois University Win 4 - 0

  • NACE Starleague

National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) - Varsity Premier Regular Season

NACE is a nonprofit membership association that hosts competitive leagues for colleges and universities across the U.S.

Mon., Jan. 29 vs Montgomery County Community College 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Tues., Feb. 5 vs Florida Institute of Technology 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Mon., Feb. 12 vs University of North Carolina at Greensboro 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Mon., Feb. 19 BYE

Mon., Feb. 26 vs Rochester Institute of Technology 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Thur., Feb. 29 vs Florida Southern College 8:00 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Mon., Mar. 4 vs Conestoga College 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Varsity Premier Playoffs

Mon., Apr. 1 vs Florida International University 6 p.m.  Win 4 - 2

Thurs. Apr. 4 vs Oklahoma Christian University 7:30 p.m. Win 4 - 1

Sat., Apr. 6 vs Boise State University 7:30 p.m. Lose 1 - 4

  • NECC League

National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) - Legends Division

NECC is an organization that hosts competitive leagues for colleges and universities across the U.S.

Fri., Feb. 2 vs University of Southern Mississippi 6 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Wed., Feb. 7 vs Northwood University 7 p.m. Lose 1 - 3

Wed., Feb. 21 vs University of Mississippi 7 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Thur., Feb 22. vs Cumberland University 5 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Fri., Mar. 1 vs University of California, Santa Barbara 8 p.m. Win 3 - 0

Fri., Mar. 8 vs Maryville University 6 p.m. Loss 0 - 3

Fri., Mar. 15 vs Grand Canyon University 8 p.m. Win 3 - 1

Conference Playoffs

Thurs., Mar. 21 vs Kennesaw State University 7 p.m. Lose 2 - 3

Fri., Mar. 22 vs Southern Mississippi University 7 p.m. Lose 2 - 3

 

Competition

Collegiate esports does not have a universally-recognized governing body. We choose our varsity titles using the following guidelines.

  • Student Interest

    We pay close attention to what our students play on campus as well as the availability of varsity titles.

  • Developer/Publisher Support & Leagues

    We rely on intellectual property holders to provide competitive leagues and tournaments.

  • Competition

    We look at titles other universities offer for varsity esports, and we plan to execute leadership by offering varsity status to up-and-coming titles while setting our players up for success.