Fisher, Briar Cliff among schools with impactful additions ahead of Fall 2026 Collegiate season

Jesse Brawders••11 min read

As the magic of the 2026 Overwatch World Cup begins to wind down, the chaos of the collegiate season is ramping up. 

It was another eventful offseason, as several contenders from last season lost key pieces of their rosters. On the other hand, several teams brought in reinforcements to try and take down the newly crowned collegiate champions: Winthrop University.

Here are some of the most impactful additions and departures that you need to know about before the Fall 2026 Overwatch Collegiate season kicks off this fall:

Best offseason additions

Fisher College

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: #4

Spring 2026 recap: 

  • Record: 41-10; 16-10 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 4 (0-3 vs Winthrop University)
  • National Esports Collegiate Conference: 2nd (0-3 vs Northwood University)
  • PlayVs College League: 2nd (0-3 vs Northwood)
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup: 2nd (0-3 vs Northwood)

Additions:

  • Alexander “Zeb” Shepard (Tank)
  • Carson “pdk” Terry (DPS)
  • Ryan “Ryan” Lawless (DPS)
  • Alex “Alex” George (Flex)

Departures:

  • Zayne “Iron” Ramirez (Tank)
  • Maxwell “Narwhal” McLychok (Support)

Recap: 

After a series of podium finishes last spring, the Fisher Falcons have reloaded their roster for another championship push. 

The addition of Zeb gives the Falcons a fresh perspective following his recent success with LuneX in OWCS NA. Zeb, who has collegiate history with Iowa State from Fall 2021 through Spring 2024, marks the first starting tank change in the program since Iron took the reins in Fall 2024. 

Speaking of OWCS experience, Ryan and pdk are set to take over the starting roles after a decent school year from veteran Isaiah “Hydron” Rodriguez and young gun Carlos “Talisman” Santiago. Alex is also expected to get some playtime between DPS and potentially some time on flex support like he did at St. Clair College.

For years, Fisher has always been in the Top 5 conversation, and last school year was no different, falling short to Winthrop and Northwood throughout all of the major tournaments. But will this roster take the Falcons to new heights and finally break into the championship conversation?

Briar Cliff University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: #9

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 27-14; 10-12 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 12 (3-0 vs Miami University (OH))
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: Top 8 (0-3 vs Bellevue University)
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup: Top 4 (1-3 vs Northwood)
  • Unified Collegiate League: 2nd (0-3 vs Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach)

Additions:

  • Alexander “Tred” Madgwick-Smith (Tank)
  • Coy “Fear” Willis (DPS)
  • Alina “Cake Queen” Chandler (Tank)

Departures:

  • Alfonso “SpookySpanish” Diaz (Tank)
  • Esteban “Benji” Alvarado (Support)
  • Amity “Amity” Crow (Flex)

Recap: 

Fresh off a runner-up finish in OWCC Varsity last semester with St. Clair, Tred has joined a rising BCU squad for the 2026-27 school year. 

Briar Cliff shot through the OWCRA rankings last spring following two wins against Bellevue and another against NC State. Even though several key players of that roster are now gone, the Chargers have done a great job filling in those holes for another Top 10 push.

Tred will give more flexibility on the frontline, giving Juan “Juvn” Villa more freedom to grow and help bring Fear or flex sub Kolby “Khatch” Hatch to the quality BCU has developed over the past year.

There was another rumored transfer that could’ve helped the BCU stocks even more, but we will now have to wait until the winter transfer window to see if those rumors end up being true. Regardless, Briar Cliff may have solidified themselves as a gatekeeper to the Top 10 of collegiate.

Grand View University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: N/A

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 15-8; 0-6 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 32 (0-2 vs Alvernia University)
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: Top 27 (0-3 vs Texas Tech University)
  • University of Kentucky Bluegrass LAN: Top 8 (2-3 vs Georgia Institute of Technology)

Additions:

  • Devin “Peace” Vasquez (DPS)
  • Aidan “NenWhy” McHenry (Support)
  • Sam “Chiglel” (Support)

Departures:

  • Ryan “RyanRhino” (Tank)
  • Quinn “Nyanza” (DPS)
  • Valerie “Cinnabar” Aseoche (Support)
  • Milos “Solim” (Support)

Recap: 

After a long stretch of solid performances, Grand View suffered from an “off” semester. GVU lost in the first round of both OWCC Open and Varsity, including an upset to Texas Tech.

But now the Vikings have gained new reinforcements, including former Bryant and Stratton College stars Peace and NenWhy. The two helped lead BSCVA to another solid set of finishes across OWCC Open, NECC and CECC in the spring. 

While losing a player the caliber of Cinnabar is rough, there are no doubts as to what the new support duo of NenWhy/Chiglel will be able to do. 

And pair that with Peace who has become one of the most in-form flex DPS players in North America as of late, Grand View have catapulted from an outside bubble team to a roster that can push for a Top five finish come November.

Syracuse University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: N/A

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 21-16; 3-12 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 32 (0-3 vs Briar Cliff)
  • Power Esports Conference: 3rd (0-3 vs University of Utah)
  • Atlantic Coast Esports Conference: 2nd (1-3 vs North Carolina State University)

Additions:

  • Tristan “Glacier” Becker (Tank)
  • Zachary “Lanta” Moore (Support)
  • Aaron “CaptFalcon” Feinstein (Support)
  • Nick “GreenDragon” Sellers (DPS)

Departures:

  • Ben “Bdawg” McDonnell (Support)

Recap: 

Syracuse burst onto the scene during the 2025-26 school year out of nowhere following some solid wins in the Power Esports Conference. But in the spring semester, the Orange struggled to break through the bubble due to a rough draw in OWCC Open and a 3rd-place finish at the PEC LAN.

The Orange now enter the 2026-27 school year as a known threat to any teams entering the bubble. Instead of settling with the same roster, Syracuse went out and reinforced an already solid roster.

The standout addition is collegiate veteran Lanta, who joins Syracuse following two years at Converse University, where he was eventually promoted from the academy team to the main roster. This year’s set of rookies also includes a new group of freshmen who are hungry to prove themselves at the next level.

While the Orange may not be expected to take out some of the top contenders quite yet, they have positioned themselves to potentially take the lead in the PEC and a permanent residence in the Top 20.

Blinn College

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: N/A

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 10-11; 0-3 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: 6-3 in Swiss, did not qualify for playoffs
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: 3-4 in regular season, did not qualify for playoffs
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup: Top 19 (0-2 in Group Stage)
  • University of Kentucky Bluegrass LAN: Top 12 (1-2 in Group Stage)

Additions:

  • Antony “Karmez” Luna (Flex)
  • Dylan “Lampent” Virtue (DPS)
  • “Bxuncy” (Support)
  • “Minicarter” (Flex)

Departures:

  • Jose “ZenDeathX” Rios (Flex)
  • Robert “Parz” Vaughan (Flex) 

Recap: 

Following one school year in the background, the Blinn Buccaneers have returned to the OW collegiate conversation with the addition of some of FACEIT’s hottest names.

The additions added some much-needed fuel to Blinn, who suffered from one of their worst finishes in OWC in years. 

But now the Buccaneers are in a position to make some noise once again, even if it is with Karmez potentially flexing over to tank to start the school year. 

Donnivan “Sky5niper” returns for his final semester at the college in hopes to return Blinn to the same type of results that helped them break into the scene in 2024.

Western Kentucky University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: N/A

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: N/A
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: 4-5 in Swiss, did not qualify for playoffs
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: 0-8 in regular season, did not qualify for playoffs
  • University of Kentucky Bluegrass LAN: Top 12 (1-2 in Group Stage)

Additions:

  • Keller “Keller” Wegter-McNelly (DPS)
  • Tyler “Crybaby” Dowden (DPS)
  • Benjamin “Stratocaster” Fender (Support)
  • Reagan “Barofsoap” Dorsey (Support)
  • Ejlin “Enolska” Sadikovic (Support sub)

Departures:

  • N/A

Recap: 

Simply put, Western Kentucky were never in the bubble conversation during the 2025-26 school year. But a fresh group of recruits with deep roots in the collegiate has flipped that on its head.

The roster is a mesh of young talent looking to improve on solid results from other schools. Crybaby (TAMUSA), Stratocaster (Mizzou) and Barofsoap (Cumberland) will all look to evolve from valuable pieces of their individual rosters to leaders at WKU.

The pure unknown of where this roster may land this school year makes it one of the most interesting new teams this semester. A roster like this with relatively unknown expectations could catch some teams by surprise if they are not careful this spring.

Schools in memoriam:

With several top teams adding some valuable pieces this summer, other programs went in the opposite direction. 

OWCC Varsity runner-up St. Clair lost its entire roster, with most of the roster graduating and Tred and Alex transferring to different schools. 

OWCRA Top Ten schools BSCVA and Arizona State also lost their rosters, with BSCVA not fielding a roster this semester.

And the breakout roster of the 2025-26 school year, TAMUSA, has lost its roster after the school ceased its varsity esports operations over the summer.

St. Clair College

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 3rd

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 37-8; 16-8 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: 4th (1-3 vs. Fisher)
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: 2nd (1-4 vs. Winthrop)
  • Eastern College Athletic Conference - Titans Division: 1st (4-0 vs. Converse University)

Departures:

  • Alexander “Tred” Madgwick-Smith (Tank)
  • Alex “Alex” George (Flex)
  • Thierry “Noxious” Whitehead (DPS)
  • Jack “Reyzr” Francis (DPS)
  • Collin “juice” Renna (DPS)
  • Philipp “Soax” Knüppel (Support)
  • Sheldon “redex” Stewart (Support) 

Bryant and Stratton College - Virginia Beach

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 5th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 29-9; 10-9 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 12 (3-1 vs. Georgia Institute of Technology)
  • National Esports Collegiate Conference: 3rd (3-2 vs. NC State)
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup: Top 8 (0-3 vs. Northwood)
  • Unified Collegiate League: 1st (3-0 vs. Briar Cliff)

Departures:

  • Evan “Pantera” Raczkowski (Tank)
  • Dion “Dion” Aguilar (Tank)
  • Dante “Manually” Ernest (DPS)
  • Devin “Peace” Vasquez (DPS)
  • Aidan “NenWhy” McHenry (Support)
  • Dale “Prota” Jacek (Support)
  • Jeovanny “Set” Mejia (Support)

Arizona State University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 10th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 7-4; 3-2 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup: Top 15 (1-3 vs. Illinois State University)
  • University of Kentucky Bluegrass LAN: 3rd (0-3 vs. Bellevue University)

Departures:

  • Andrew “Aurora” Faris (Tank)
  • Jonathan “Jman” Mena (DPS)
  • Connor “Anhoo” DuBois (DPS)
  • Mason “Anghell1c” Herwegh (Support)
  • Trey “zPanthr” Rice (Support)
  • Holden “Scylla” Huber (Support)

Georgia Institute of Technology

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 19th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 16-17; 1-12 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 16 (1-3 vs. BSCVA)
  • National Esports Collegiate Conference: 0-7 in regular season, did not qualify for playoffs
  • University of Kentucky Bluegrass LAN: 4th (0-3 vs. ASU)
  • Atlantic Coast Esports Conference: 3rd (2-3 vs. Syracuse)

Departures:

  • Rahul “Killswitch” Sahetiya (Tank)
  • Simon “Scl33” Levenstein (Tank)
  • Daniel “Genesectzdb” Boyer (Tank)
  • Kashir “Kashir” Khan (DPS)
  • Samuel “Allstar” Miller (DPS)
  • Hayden “HaydenRHN” Narey (Support)
  • Alden “Aceaid” Ehrenhalt (Support)

Texas A&M University - San Antonio

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 20th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 15-19; 2-17 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 32 (0-2 vs. NC State)
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: Top 8 (0-3 vs. University of Texas - Dallas)
  • Texas Collegiate Invitational: 3rd (2-3 vs. UT Dallas)

Departures:

  • Emilio “Wantrr” Villar (Tank)
  • Tyler “Crybaby” Dowden (DPS)
  • Owen “Coconut” (DPS)
  • Miguel “Eve” Vasquez (Support)
  • Gabriel “CupidSoldier” (Support)
  • “VanillaHoney” (Tank Sub)
  •  David “Goliathan” Ludemann (Support Sub)

Other notable moves:

While some of these moves didn’t make the top headlines, these transfers will certainly bring some changes to the power rankings to start the fall semester.

North Carolina State University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 6th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 25-16; 8-16 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 12 (3-0 vs. Alvernia University)
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: Top 4 (0-3 vs. Winthrop)
  • National Esports Collegiate Conference: 4th (2-3 vs. BSCVA)
  • Atlantic Coast Esports Conference: 1st (Syracuse)

Additions:

  • “Jacob” (DPS)

Departures:

  • “Lobby” (DPS)
    • Still at NCSU, but will not be playing consistently due to non-esports related circumstances 

Cumberland University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 7th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 33-10; 14-10 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 6 (0-3 vs. St. Clair)
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: Top 6 (2-3 vs. St. Clair)
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup: Top 8 (0-3 vs. Briar Cliff)
  • Eastern College Athletic Conference - Open Division: 1st (4-1 vs. Ball State University - Black)

Additions:

  • “Aspect” (DPS)
  • “Trio” (DPS)
  • “JackoPacko” (Support)
  • “Sunraku” (Support)

Departures:

  • Grey “Nody” Etue (DPS)
  • Jake “Virtual” Harris (Support)
  • Stijn “Schef” Scheffers (Support)
  • Reagan “Barofsoap” Dorsey (Support)

Bellevue University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 8th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 26-13; 13-13 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 6 (0-3 vs. Fisher)
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: Top 8 (2-3 vs. Cumberland)
  • University of Kentucky Bluegrass LAN: 1st (3-1 vs. Cleveland State University)

Additions:

  • “Mimiq” (Support)
  • Rumored tank player, player TBA

Departures:

  • Avery “Av2ry” Hogue (Tank)
  • Dhruv “Rajeem” Pandrangi (Support)

University of Utah

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 11th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 19-6; 3-3 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: 5-5 in Swiss Stage, did not make playoffs
    • pdk did not play for second half of swiss
  • Power Esports Conference: 1st (4-3 vs. Boise State University)

Additions:

  • TBA

Departures:

  • Carson “pdk” Terry (DPS)
  • Ethan “Sonic” Berroa (Support)
  • Jace “Jamin” Mascher (Support)

Texas A&M University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 12th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 27-10; 3-10 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 32 (0-2 vs. Cumberland)
  • National Esports Collegiate Conference: 5-3 in regular season, did not qualify for playoffs
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup: Top 15 (2-3 vs. Arcadia University)
  • University of Kentucky Bluegrass LAN: Top 6 (1-3 vs. Arizona State)
  • Texas Collegiate Invitational: 1st (3-0 vs. UT Dallas)

Additions:

  • Aaron “encore!”

Departures:

  • Brandon “Freedom” Nguyen (DPS)
  • Gram “Almond” (Support)

Cleveland State University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 14th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 27-11; 4-11 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 8 (0-3 vs. St. Clair)
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: Top 16 (1-3 vs. TAMUSA)
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup: Top 8 (0-3 vs. Fisher)
  • University of Kentucky Bluegrass LAN: 2nd (1-3 vs. Bellevue)

Additions:

  • “WilmaFistFit” (DPS)

Departures:

  • Isaac “End3r” Kwaske-O’Neil (DPS)
  • “Alizu” (Support)

University of Texas - Dallas

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 15th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 22-15; 2-13 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: 6-3 in Swiss Stage, did not qualify for playoffs
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Varsity: Top 6 (1-3 vs. NC State)
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup: Top 15 (1-3 vs. Cumberland)
  • Texas Collegiate Invitational: 2nd (0-3 vs. Texas A&M)

Additions:

  • Catherine “Yoshem” Ridings (Tank)
    • Heavily rumored addition, still unconfirmed.
  • Joshua “Puggo” Galvez (DPS)
  • Daryl “Daryl” Culpepper (Support)
  • Michael “Pluto” Newby (Tank)
  • Ocean “Arco” Smith (Support)

Departures:

  • Abdala “Abdala” Aljewarane (Tank)

Boise State University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 16th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 17-2; 1-2 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Power Esports Conference: 2nd (2-4 vs. Utah)
  • Mountain West: 1st (3-0 vs. Oregon State)

Additions:

  • John “Chosen” Rinella (Support)
  • “Destiny” (Support)
  • “Techless” (TBA)

Departures:

  • Jonathan “CLEAR” Foraker (Tank/DPS)
  • Thamma “Maksal” Thanakomsirichot (DPS)
  • Carter “Lyric” Jones (Support)
  • “DayDream” (Support)

Arcadia University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: 17th

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Record: 19-16; 8-11 vs. OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking teams
  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 32 (1-2 vs. Georgia Tech)
  • National Esports Collegiate Conference: Top 6 (1-3 vs. BSCVA)
  • Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup: Top 8 (0-3 vs. Illinois State University)
  • Project III Tournament: 2nd (0-4 vs. Alvernia University)

Additions:

  • Aidan “Finlay” Phelan (DPS)
  • NIco “IRLCatboy” Tamburri (Support)

Departures:

  • Jack “Racer” Santosusso (Tank)
  • Ethan “PiP” Piperno (DPS)

Alvernia University

OWCRA Spring 2026 final ranking: N/A

Spring 2026 finishes:

  • Overwatch Collegiate Championships - Open: Top 16 (0-3 vs. NC State)
  • National Esports Collegiate Conference: 5-4 in regular season, did not qualify for playoffs
  • Project III Tournament: 1st (4-0 vs. Arcadia)

Additions:

  • Andrew “Icee” Stirk (DPS)
  • Timothy “NLEgayboy” Gaudelli (DPS)
  • Gavin “PZ” Price (Support)

Departures:

  • Seth “Set” Patchett (DPS)
  • Devin “Optimal” Dvorak (DPS)
  • Anthony “Gusty” Parsons (Support)

Conclusion

Several notable players were also left without a team this semester – including Virtual who initially looked for options with Tred, Alex, pdk and Grapes – but did not sign with a team for the fall semester.

This semester’s collegiate Overwatch season kicks off next week with the PCL starting its regular season on Sept. 16. 

The official Overwatch Collegiate Homecoming - Open season begins on Sept. 24 with the Swiss stage.