Alienware Returns with Year 2 of Collegiate Clash in 2026

by Matt McGowan, Head of Product, Alienware

The Alienware Collegiate Clash is back for its second year, providing the main stage for top collegiate esports teams across North America to earn ultimate bragging rights they can wear like a badge of honor around campus. Last year’s inaugural event made its mark, with Texas A&M taking home the championship hardware in Apex Legends hosted at the state-of-the-art Alienware Purdue Gaming Lounge.

This year, we’re building on what worked and pushing competition into new territory: this year’s tournament will feature Marvel Rivals, bringing together the best-of-the-best collegiate teams in a fresh game. But this event represents more than just a trophy; it’s a chance to shine a spotlight on teams who’ve poured hours into grinding together and to represent their school colors on a national stage.

24 Schools. One Main Stage.

Starting in March, 24 participating schools will move on from Discord scrim practice and VOD reviews into a week of online qualifiers, climbing the competition ladder to make it to the ultimate stage: LAN Finals hosted in the Alienware Longhorn Esports Arena at the University of Texas at Austin (UT).

Hosting this year’s Clash at UT is significant: the University isn’t just a powerhouse in academics and athletics; it’s a cultural hub for innovation, technology and creative energy. Bringing Collegiate Clash here is a natural evolution of the event’s legacy, marking the largest competition held at the Alienware Longhorn Esports Arena since its opening in 2023.

Participating Schools:

  • Ball State University
  • Baylor University
  • Centennial College*
  • East Tennessee State University
  • Florida International University (FIU)*
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Indiana University Bloomington
  • Kansas State University
  • Michigan State University (MSU)*
  • Minnesota State University
  • Old Dominion University
  • Purdue University*
  • Southern Methodist University (SMU)
  • St. Clair College*
  • St. Edwards University
  • Syracuse University
  • Texas A&M University (TAMU)
  • University of Buffalo
  • University of California, Berkley
  • University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)*
  • University of Colorado Boulder*
  • University of Kentucky
  • University of Texas at Austin (UT)*
  • Winthrop University

*Alienware Partner Schools

Tournament Format:

*Tune into the official Marvel Rivals Twitch Channel or YouTube Channel starting at 11AM Central on April 11 to catch all the LAN Finals action. Keep up with Alienware Arena for updates until then.

Prizing:

  • 1st Place: Collegiate Clash Trophy + Alienware laptops for each player
  • Runner Up: Alienware Pro Series Headsets

Plus: Each LAN Finalist player will receive a customized Alienware Collegiate Clash game jersey.

The Partners Making Collegiate Clash Possible

A tournament of this caliber isn’t built alone. Oversight Esports is the engine behind event logistics and ensuring smooth broadcasts for fans across the country to tune in on Twitch and YouTube. NetEase is the game developer supplying the competitive title, while Team Liquid (longstanding Alienware partner) brings firsthand experience from the professional scene to help bridge the college and pro gap with insight that translates to better competition. Intel is the event sponsor providing the latest technology that keeps Alienware PCs performing at their peak, so players are armed with the best equipment on game day.

Why Collegiate Esports Is the Future

Collegiate esports is one of the fastest-growing ecosystems in gaming because it sits at the intersection of:

  • Competition
  • Creativity
  • Community
  • Career pathways

These students aren’t just players. They’re streamers, coders, designers, strategists and future leaders. Collegiate Clash gives them a stage and is an event to celebrate student talent, creativity and the future of competitive gaming. And we’re proud to help power it: every frame, every clutch moment, every nail-biting win.

Alienware’s mission with Collegiate Clash is to enable students with the same caliber of technology trusted by professionals, while helping universities further elevate esports into a respected discipline.

Additional tournament details and imagery can be found in our Official Press Kit.

GLHF.