GREENWOOD, S.C. -  Amidst sweltering heat, members of the Lander Esports team moved back to campus to attend the preseason training camp starting on August 11th. Players and production members alike moved in early to prepare for the upcoming year with a slew of meetings, internal scrims, and Lander Athletics media day. 

Fresh off of 5 conference championships and 3 national appearances, a slate of updates and upgrades awaited students upon their return to campus including 11 new PCs to bring the total in the Bearcade to 23. Additionally, upgraded networking, electrical work, and soundproofing on a new wall were built to accommodate the new upgrades to the facility. Joining the championship returners, Lander Esports doubled the roster size by welcoming 15 new freshmen, 3 transfer students, 1 upperclassman, and 1 graduate student for the 26-27 academic year.

26-27 Season Roadmap
Placements: A grueling stretch of 39 games in 16 days to get sorted into the appropriate divisions.
Regular season.
Postseason/Conference Championships.
Rinse and repeat in the Spring
Nationals.

So how does an entire NCAA basketball season fit into just over a two week period and why is it so compact? "With our growth this year, we're opening up more teams to compete. More teams, more games, more tournaments, it fills up fast" said Head Coach Billy Howard who is entering his 4th year at the helm of the Bearcats emerging dynasty in esports. After placements are completed, Howard expects to have anywhere between 16-20 games per week for the entire semester. "Placements are a mix between a slug fest and a sprint. It's intense, but we're in mid-season form already and some of our opponents are just getting started. I anticipate we'll hit close to 150 games this semester alone and you can't succeed at that without ample preparation and a commitment to standards and process. If we follow that blueprint, we'll be playing well into December"

MARVEL RIVALS PREVIEW 
For the first time ever, Lander Esports will field two Marvel Rivals' teams. After clinching two conference championships and the #1 seed at Nationals last year, the Varsity team returns 5 starters and added more depth from this year's freshman class. After an aggressive recruiting cycle, a JV team was also added for this year. Both Rivals teams will be competing in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) and Gateway Esports League (GEL) in addition to their run in the Peach Belt Conference.

Bolded players are new additions to the program this year. 
VARSITY - GRANDMASTER/CELESTIAL AVERAGE
Aiden McClain - RosesInAutumn 
Andre Gonzalez - FangedBubble6o6 
Aizley Gonzalez - Seafoam<>
Chad Burger - Bathtub t0ast 
Conner Gliba - Kiyohshi 
Jason Tavares - Jay4A1 
Michael Kukucka - ldkHowToPIay
Griffin Kirby - Goober Graber

JV - PLAT AVERAGE
AJ Johnston - SincerelyAJ
Bryce Hollo - SoggyCracker 
Charlie Duff - Synova 
Chad Burger - Bathtub t0ast
Gabriel Martinez - Exo_Foreign 
Gabrielle Garrison - ellie
Jessica Humphrey - kaliko 
Jourdan Simmons - Cynrid 
Kwasuan Kelley-Perry - Triple_Aside9 
Ronald Lacy - RonDeazy 
Sean Graeber - DrChopSticks

ROCKET LEAGUE PREVIEW
After signing Trey Jackson, #1 player in South Carolina for the 2026 recruiting class, a team that went 41-8 last year has new life and elevated expectations going into this Fall. In addition to competing in the Peach Belt Conference this Fall, Rocket League will also compete in the Southeastern League (SEL), Carolina Collegiate Conference (C3), and National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC).
    "I know we are going to win and win big. I have full confidence in my team." Luke Rutland immediately responds when asked about the upcoming season.

Bolded players are new additions to the program this year. 
VARSITY - GRAND CHAMPION 3 Average
Carson Medlin - Drop-.
Evan Smith - KiwiGG 
Joel Gullian - Darko 0_0  
Luke Rutland - hnt3r . 
Trey Jackson - Takua 

VALORANT PREVIEW
Alongside the returning Academy team that finished 3rd at NECC Nationals last year, Lander added key players to launch a Premier-level team for the first time in program history. "Our Premier team is expected to play against the best of the best across the country. This team will be facing immortal to radiant level teams night in and night out throughout the season" Howard said about the different level of teams Lander runs. "From there, it goes Varsity, Academy, JV, and then NXT. We also run Sakura which is our all-girls team, allowing a space for any female-identifying player to thrive in a safe and supportive space. At the end of the day, it's about having a safe space to develop and do what you love. A community, if you will."

Both Valorant teams will compete in the Carolina Collegiate Conference (C3), National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), and the Southeastern League (SEL) this Fall.

Bolded players are new additions to the program this year. 
PREMIER - IMMORTAL AVERAGE
Diego Hemperley - domothelama 
Isaiah Jarzab - Haisai 
Jason Tavares - Jay4A1
Richard Nguyen - Heron 
Tyler Terell - pink milk 

ACADEMY - PLAT AVERAGE
Bryan Wiggins - CWig
Carl Smith - Overly
Jacob Wallace - TinyGiant
Jackson Elkins - Icesnikle 
Katelyn Duncan - lunaexe
Landon Sullivan - Femtanyl
Olivia Emerson - Amaranthine
Zachary Scruggs - zachx.x 
Zoe Davis - DankLambsauce58

"Players have the ability to be moved up and down after a season at my discretion. I don't care if you're a freshman or have been on the team for 4 years, the best players start. Don't get complacent, stay hungry, do your job." said Coach Howard when asked about the chance to be promoted to the next team. "The team knows you can get moved down in a heartbeat if you don't meet the standards. Athletic standards, academic standards, and personal standards."

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