January 15, 2026
Following a dominant season of competition, St. John’s University’s eSports teams traveled to Waco, TX, to compete in the PlayVS College League (PCL) 2026 Spring Championship.
St. John’s earned two berths in the national championship through its success at the 2026 BIG EAST Championships. The University’s Marvel Rivals team captured the BIG EAST title, while its League of Legends team advanced to the championship match and secured a runner-up finish.
PlayVS is the largest amateur gaming and esports platform in North America, providing students with the opportunity to represent their institutions in structured competition across many popular eSports titles.
“The environment, hearing everyone screaming—it just makes you feel alive,” said Alex Fernandez ’26CCPS, a computer science major and member of the University’s Marvel Rivals team. “I know Northwood University and Fisher College are both there, and they’re very tough competitors. Hopefully, we can take one away from them.”
Marvel Rivals is a team-based multiplayer action game featuring Marvel superheroes, while League of Legends is a hugely popular five-versus-five competitive strategy game. The national event brought together top-performing collegiate eSports programs from across the country, representing the highest level of competition within the PlayVS College League.
St. John's Marvel Rivals squad entered nationals following a remarkable season, completing conference play undefeated without losing a match or surrendering a single point. Beyond the competition, the championship provided students with the opportunity to compete in a professionally organized environment while gaining exposure to live event production, national competition, and industry-leading technology.
“We just needed to warm up a little bit,” said Jake Diamond ’26SOE, an adolescent education major. “Once we got the hang of it and made a few adjustments, I think it was our game from there.”
St. John’s delivered an impressive performance on the national stage, with its Marvel Rivals team earning a third-place finish, while the League of Legends team placed seventh overall, securing a Top 8 national finish.
The results capped a landmark season for St. John’s eSports, highlighting the program’s continued growth and its ability to compete with the nation’s premier collegiate eSports programs.