USA TODAY Sports announces National High School Esports Championship

USA TODAY Sports, in collaboration with PlayVS — North America’s leading scholastic and collegiate gaming platform, announced the USA TODAY Sports National High School Esports Championship on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

The Esports Championship announcement comes two years after USA TODAY Sports and PlayVS introduced the SUPER 25 Esports Rankings.

The round-robin style tournament will feature eight of the top programs in the nation competing in EA Sports Madden NFL, Marvel Rivals, and Rocket League. Schools qualified for the tournament based on meeting evaluation criteria, which included game-winning percentages in the three games, as well as the number of graduating seniors. PlayCS evaluated these during the 2026 Spring esports season.

At the conclusion of the tournament, the inaugural National High School Esports Champion and the ALL-USA Esports Team will be announced by USA TODAY Sports on the USA TODAY High School Sports National Hub.

“For decades, USA TODAY Sports has recognized the nation’s top high school athletes and teams through the Super 25 and ALL-USA franchises. Now, we’re bringing that same spotlight to esports,” said Alicia DelGallo, USA TODAY Network Sports Editorial Director. “These students compete at an elite level while representing their schools and communities. The National High School Esports Championship gives them a national stage and extends a trusted USA TODAY Sports tradition to a new generation of athletes and fans.”

“We are excited to expand our relationship with USA TODAY Sports and build on its work to elevate esports alongside other high school sports,” said Jonathan Boswell, CEO of PlayVS. “This new competition will bring national recognition to outstanding programs and student-athletes. We couldn’t be more excited to showcase their talent, dedication and school pride.”