Alienware announced Friday that the Alienware Collegiate Clash will return for a second season, starting in March and ending with a Final in April.
The competition aimed at top collegiate esports teams across North America will feature Marvel Rivals this year. In 2025, Texas A&M won top honors, taking home the top prize in Apex Legends at the championship hosted at the Alienware Purdue Gaming Lounge.
Alienware said in its announcement that this year’s competition will feature 24 schools. Participating schools will compete in online qualifiers starting in March, climbing the rankings to make it to the LAN Finals hosted in the Alienware Longhorn Esports Arena at the University of Texas at Austin (UT).
This year’s participating schools are:
- Ball State University
- Baylor University
- Centennial College*
- East Tennessee State University
- Florida International University (FIU)*
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Kansas State University
- Michigan State University (MSU)*
- Minnesota State University
- Old Dominion University
- Purdue University*
- Southern Methodist University (SMU)
- St. Clair College*
- St. Edwards University
- Syracuse University
- Texas A&M University (TAMU)
- University of Buffalo
- University of California, Berkley
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)*
- University of Colorado Boulder*
- University of Kentucky
- University of Texas at Austin (UT)*
- Winthrop University
(*Denotes Alienware Partner Schools)
Tournament Format
Online Qualifier #1: March 2-3.
- Sixteen teams, Round-Robin: Top four teams advance to LAN Finals.
- March 2 Livestream (starts at 4PM CT).
- March 3 Livestream (starts at 4PM CT).
Online Qualifier #2: March 5-6.
- Eight teams, Round-Robin: Top four teams advance to LAN Finals.
- March 5 Livestream (starts at 4PM CT).
- March 6 Livestream (starts at 4PM CT).
LAN Finals: April 11
- Eight finalist teams, Double Elimination
Prizing
First Place: Collegiate Clash Trophy + Alienware laptops for each player.
Runner Up: Alienware Pro Series Headsets
Each LAN Finalist player will also receive a customized Alienware Collegiate Clash game jersey.
Partners for this year’s competition include Intel, NetEase, Team Liquid, Intel, and Oversight Esports.
More details about the 2026 Alienware Collegiate Clash can be found at dell.alienwarearena.com.