The Peach Belt Conference and Commissioner Diana Kling are excited to announce that the PBC has joined the 2025-26 CECC May Madness Partner Conference Program as a recognized partner of Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) and EsportsU. 
 
With this partnership, the PBC will receive automatic qualification bids for Rocket League, Valorant and Overwatch 2. PBC Esports members will have the opportunity to compete for the automatic qualification at the PBC Championships, with the PBC Tournament Champion receiving the automatic bid to the CECC May Madness National Championship Finals. The finals will take place April 30 through May 3 at the Waco Convention Center in Waco, Texas.
 
“We’re excited to formalize our partnership with CSMG and EsportsU by becoming a partner conference as they continue to raise the bar in collegiate Esports” said Commissioner Kling. “The CECC May Madness event has evolved and grown each year, and it is a premiere event on the calendar into which teams actively strive to qualify.  This collaboration not only expands competitive opportunities for PBC student-athletes but also reinforces our commitment to supporting the rapidly growing Esports landscape.”
 
This partnership emphasizes the PBC’s commitment to continuous growth and opportunity for our member institutions, while highlighting the success of the Esports programs within the conference. The PBC was the first in any division to hold an Esports Championship in 2018 with League of Legends. Since 2020, four Esports titles have been added in an effort to continuously improve the opportunities available for our members. The league saw the addition of Overwatch as the second Esports title in 2020. Rocket League and Valorant titles were added in 2022. Most recently, Marvel Rivals was added as a fifth title for Fall 2025.
 
“The Peach Belt Conference has been a cornerstone partner in shaping the future of collegiate esports,” said Angela Bernhard Thomas, Chief Esports Officer at CSMG. “As one of the first NCAA conferences to embrace competitive gaming, their commitment to student-athletes, high-caliber events, and forward-thinking leadership has helped elevate the entire ecosystem. We’re proud to stand alongside the PBC as they continue to set the standard for what’s possible in scholastic esports.”
 
Following their recent victories at the Florence Esports Festival, PBC Overwatch Tournament Champions, Converse University, and PBC Rocket League Tournament Champions, Kennesaw State University, will receive the PBC automatic bids for those titles and attend the CECC May Madness National Championship Finals. They will be joined by the 2026 PBC Valorant Tournament Champions, which will be decided at the PBC Spring Esports Championship on April 3^rd & 4^th. 
 
About Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG)
Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) is an integrated sports, entertainment, and media company committed to advancing traditional sports and esports. CSMG offers expertise in media rights, analytics, licensing, sponsorship sales, brand building, original content, and event production.
We empower sports properties, brands, and video game publishers to succeed at the crossroads of tech, sports, entertainment, and video games. Through innovation, efficiency and execution, CSMG has created transformative opportunities, driving growth in traditional sports while unifying and elevating the scholastic esports ecosystem.