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Esports Playoffs Fall 2026

Esports

Five and Counting: Esports Clinches 5 Regular Season Titles This Fall, 32nd Overall Championship

Greenwood, S.C. - With playoffs just around the corner, Lander Esports captured their 5th regular season title this semester on Wednesday night with a 4-1 victory over Alabama Huntsville in NECC Rocket League. The victory marked the program's 24th regular season title in 31/2 years and 32nd overall in the same span.

Combining for 19 goals in the series, Trey Jackson, Evan Smith, and Carson Medlin put on an offensive masterclass with 13 assists while maintaining an edge in possession (53%) and demolitions (+6).

Rocket League has not been the only team to find success this semester. Across the program, the Bearcats have won an astonishing 106 of their first 133 games. Regular season titles were captured by the following teams:

Varsity Rocket League - NECC Southeast Division, Carolina Collegiate Conference Open Division
Varsity Marvel Rivals - Gateway Esports League
JV Marvel Rivals - Peach Belt Conference Champions Division, NECC East Division
 

With regular seasons wrapping up next week, here's a look at the upcoming playoff picture. Lander has two of the top 6 teams in the Gateway Esports Marvel Rivals National Championship bracket as well as two of the top 6 teams in the Carolina Collegiate Conference Valorant Championship.

League Division/Conference Seed Playoff Format
Varsity Rocket League
NECC Southeast Conference #1* 8-team single elimination
Gateway Esports League Tier 1 #2 4-team double elimination (Nationals)
Carolina Collegiate Conference Open Division #3* 17-team double elimination
Peach Belt Conference Masters Division #4 8-team double elimination
Southeastern League Tier 2 #15 32-team single elimination
Varsity Marvel Rivals
Gateway Esports League Tier 1 #1* 6-team double elimination (Nationals)
Peach Belt Conference Masters Division #4 8-team single elimination
NECC Southeast Conference TBD 8-team single elimination
JV Marvel Rivals
Peach Belt Conference Champions Division #1* 4-team single elimination
NECC East Conference #2* 8-team single elimination
Gateway Esports League Tier 1 #6 6-team double elimination (Nationals)
Premier Valorant
Carolina Collegiate Conference Premier Division #3 8-team GSL triple elimination
Southeastern League Tier 2 #11 16-team double elimination
NECC South Conference TBD 8-team single elimination
Academy Valorant
Carolina Collegiate Conference Premier Division #6 8-team GSL triple elimination
NECC Northeast Conference TBD 8-team single elimination

* Regular season champions

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Players Mentioned

Trey Jackson

Trey Jackson

Freshman
Carson Medlin

Carson Medlin

Junior
Evan Smith

Evan Smith

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Trey Jackson

Trey Jackson

Freshman
Carson Medlin

Carson Medlin

Junior
Evan Smith

Evan Smith

Freshman