Marshall’s esports program is seeing major growth in the 2026 season, with several teams climbing national rankings and a new facility giving players a dedicated space to compete and practice.
Kyle Trapp, described the current season as “overwhelming in a good way,” highlighting several teams that have made major strides compared to last year.
Marshall’s Overwatch team, which spent much of last semester creating team roles and learning how to play together, has surged to a national level. The team is now ranked in the top 16 nationally and awaiting the release of the national tournament schedule.
The Call of Duty team has also continued to dominate. After finishing eighth in the country last year, the team is currently undefeated on the season and ranked No. 1 in the Southeast Appalachian region. Trapp expects the team to break into the national top 10 rankings in the coming days.
Another standout performance has come from the Super Smash Bros. team, which has already secured a spot at nationals and is currently ranked among the top eight teams in the country. The team’s success has also translated into strong campus engagement with weekly gaming events in Morrow Library.
“They have blown me away with just the amount of work that they are putting in and the practice,” Trapp said. “They’re working with the campus community through Smashers, doing a weekly event every Friday, and they were telling me the numbers have been going for anywhere from 60 to 140 people showing up to play Smash Brothers. It’s been really cool.”
Beyond competitive results, one of the biggest milestones for the program has been the move to its new space in Drinko Library. After renovations and setting up, the esports teams officially relocated there, giving players an upgraded place to practice, stream and compete.
According to Trapp, the new facility has significantly improved team performance and the overall experience for everyone.
“Now they’re here in person, watching VOD and doing as much stuff as they can,” Trapp said. “They have been very excited. They really enjoy having their own space.”
The program currently includes about 65 students across varsity and club teams. Within the National Association of Collegiate Esports, Marshall has roughly 35 students eligible for competition who must maintain GPA requirements to participate.
Interest in esports at Marshall has also grown significantly beyond the teams themselves. Trapp said the program’s streaming presence has expanded rapidly, particularly on Twitch. Since returning from winter break, the esports Twitch channel reached affiliate status within a week.
“Our two streams of Valorant have brought a viewer count of 30 to 60 people consistently throughout the entire stream, which is insane,” Trapp said. “We’re growing pretty fast; it’s been crazy how quick the impact of everyone coming in has been. It’s not just campus wide, but within the Huntington community as well.”
The program’s growing reputation has also led to new opportunities outside of the local community. Trapp recently received an invitation to travel to Baltimore later in the month to speak about esports. The next major milestone could come in April if several teams qualify for the LAN Grand Finals in Orlando. The weekend event will be hosted by Full Sail University and will take place April 23-26.
“If everything goes well, we’ll be traveling to Orlando,” Trapp said, “and if that happens, we’re hoping to bring some national titles home.”
Despite the success, the season has not been without some challenges. Some leagues Marshall planned to compete in were canceled unexpectedly due to issues with publisher approvals. One example involved the game Marvel Rivals, which requires strict adherence to licensing rules because it is tied to the Disney intellectual property.
Even with sudden schedule changes, Trapp said students have remained committed and adaptable.
“I’m very, very grateful for the students that have stuck with me through those times,” he said. “It’s tough, especially knowing that it wasn’t even in our control, but it’s great to still be able to say, ‘You know, we’re still doing this, and we’re still doing great things.’”
In the long term, Trapp hopes to continue expanding the program by creating opportunities for students interested in broadcasting, streaming and media production. He also hopes to add new competitive titles like Marvel Rivals and even develop a podcast.
For Trapp, the program’s growth reflects a shift in how esports and its players are viewed on campus.
“Just knowing that people are starting to take it more seriously and it’s not just a bunch of gamers is amazing,” Trapp said. “They’re actually being treated as athletes, and they’re going to class. They’re not just playing games.”
Ella Hatfield can be contacted at [email protected].
