Transylvania’s Rocket League esports team qualifies for nationals

Transylvania University's Rocket League esports team has qualified for the National Esports Collegiate Conference championship.

The Pioneers, who finished first in their division, kick off the national tournament tonight at 8 against Loyola Marymount University. All games will stream live on Twitch, with schedule updates posted on the team's Instagram.

Rocket League is a "physics-based game" often described as "car soccer," coach Dylan Osborne said. Players use rocket-powered vehicles to hit a large ball into the opponent's goal, relying on precise aerial control and a lot of practice.

This is Transylvania's final season in the NECC. The program will switch next year to the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

Qualification combined fall and winter term results. Teams played a preseason placement tournament, a double round-robin regular season and playoffs. Strong finishes across both terms earned qualifier points - and placing first after playoffs granted an automatic bid.

"We're in the top eight schools in the nation right now for our division - very excited about that," Osborne said.

A win tonight advances the team; a defeat ends the season. But a semifinal loss would allow the Pioneers to play for third place, where scholarship money is on the line.

The nationals roster features Nathaniel Hunt, Will Sparrow, Jeffry Todd and Jonah Whitehead (with Ben Matheny and Sarah Beth Martin as substitutes). A total of around 30 Transylvania students compete in games that also include League of Legends, Super Smash Bros., Marvel Rivals and others.

Esports at Transylvania has grown steadily over the past few years, giving students a competitive outlet that mirrors traditional athletics - and providing a fun way to get engaged in campus life. Read more about the program.