Northwestern Esports to Compete in National Finals Contest May 2-3
April 24, 2026
Students compete in gaming contests at computers in Northwestern’s esports contest room in Shockley Hall. The university’s esports team will play in the national finals competition May 2-3 in St. Louis, Missouri.
ALVA, Okla. — The Northwestern Call of Duty Esports team posted a standout spring season in the Collegiate Call of Duty League (CCL), competing against 118 teams from across the United States and Canada and has qualified for national finals competition.
Entering the season ranked No. 13 nationally, Northwestern’s four-player roster includes Ryan George, a junior general studies major from Colorado Springs, Colorado; team captain Nathan Gillespie, a sophomore business major from Tampa, Florida; Tyler Pickel, a junior computer science major from Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Max Saltzman, a junior biology major from Tulsa.
Competing in the Midwest Region, the team played in a Swiss-style round-robin tournament from Feb. 2 through March 17 against 14 other teams, including the defending national champion. Northwestern compiled an 11-2 record, which qualified them for the Midwest Regional playoffs.
The regional playoffs, held April 10-12, featured a double-elimination bracket. Northwestern advanced to the Grand Finals after defeating Oklahoma Christian earlier in the bracket, sending the defending champion to the loser’s side. Oklahoma Christian ultimately claimed the title in the final matchup, marking the third meeting between the two teams this season.
With a runner-up finish and a 16-3 overall record at the time, Northwestern secured a spot in the CCL National Championship playoffs, which began April 17 and included the top eight teams from each of the league’s four regions.
After three days of competition, Northwestern remained among the final eight teams in the bracket. The team will travel to St. Louis, Missouri, to compete at the Impact Gaming Center during the national finals weekend, May 2-3.
The finals format includes one day of Swiss play, followed by a championship round featuring the top four teams. Northwestern enters the final weekend with a 19-5 record.
Current or future Northwestern students interested in learning about the Northwestern Esports team, including available scholarships, can visit nwosu.edu/nwosu-esports or contact Evan Vaverka, Northwestern Esports director and instructor of computer science, at esports@nwosu.edu or (580) 327-8587.
For more information about the Northwestern Math and Computer Science Department, visit nwosu.edu/school-of-arts-and-sciences/math-and-computer-science.
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