The Overwatch Collegiate Homecoming: Fall 2025 Open brought together dozens of programs hoping to make a final statement before the semester is over. Across two weeks of qualifiers, upsets, and decisive sweeps, the Open Division offered a snapshot of a collegiate scene that is both highly competitive and constantly evolving.
At the end of it all, one storyline stood above the rest: Illinois State University (ISU), a program that recently announced its disbandment, winning yet another title.
But the Redbirds’ triumph was just one part of a much larger tournament, filled with breakout teams, returning contenders, and a bracket that highlighted how wide the competitive gap can be in collegiate Overwatch.
A Tournament of Contrasts: Powerhouses, Underdogs, and New Challengers
The Fall 2025 Homecoming Open featured a diverse mix of programs:
- Established varsity powers with all support needed
- Club teams fighting far above their weight class
- Emerging programs testing their rosters against national competition
Throughout the early rounds, familiar names rose quickly. Out of all the 10-0 and 9-1 Swiss teams, all seven won their first matches. Winthrop University, Northwood, ISU, and Fisher won decisive 3-0 vs California State Long Beach (CSULB), Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Minnesota State Mankato, and University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) respectively. Bryant & Stratton, and Bellevue dropped a map versus strong Cumberland and Briar Cliff University, and St. Clair got a forfeit win versus Texas A&M. The only upset was #9 seed North Carolina State (NCSU) defeating Arizona State (ASU) 3-1.
The quarterfinals were pretty decisive, too. A 3-0 win for Winthrop over NCSU, and ISU vs Northwood, and a 3-1 defeat for St. Clair over Byant & Staton and Fisher over Bellevue. The semifinals was a double upset, with #5 seed ISU taking down the #1 seed Winthrop 3-1, and #3 seed Fisher College taking down St. Clair with the same scoreline.
The gap between varsity programs and club programs was visible, but also made the Redbirds’ run so compelling.
Illinois State: Dominance after Program Closure
ISU entered the event with unusual pressure: the 2025-2026 academic year is the first year without a varsity esports structure; players kept their scholarships this year, but there was no full time coaching staff like previously before.
Their first season as a club program may be one of the strongest in program history.
In the finals of the Open Division, ISU dominated Fisher college 4-0. In the rounds before, they only dropped 1 map to the #1 seed, Winthrop, keeping a clean sweep in the rest of their games. In the Varsity Premier division, ISU dropped a map to Lindenwood University, swept Ball State and Cumberland, and then defeated St. Clair 4-2 in the grand finals.
A championship to end off their 4 year domination starting with 1st place in HUE Invitational 2021, 2nd place in OW Homecoming 2021, 2nd in NACE Spring 2022, 1st in CECC 2022, 1st in HUE Invitational 2022, 1st in Varsity and OW Homecoming 2022, NECC Fall 2022 Legends Division Champions, NACE Spring 2023 Champions, 2024 OCCS Champions, 1st in Varsity and OW Homecoming 2024, 2025 Spring NACE Championship, 1st in CECC 2025, and most recently 1st in Varsity Premiere and the Open Division of OW Homecoming 2025. They earned over $150,000 in prize pools over their 4 years of competition.
ISU’s victory this time was a statement about resilience and what they had learned as a team so far.
When asked about the future of the ISU Overwatch team, this is what player Matthew “Goose” Gisi had to say: “Our intent is to continue competing next semester together. We might not be affiliated with ISU as we are looking for outside sponsors in order to fund travel, but our roster plans to compete together.”
Fisher, Northwood, and the Usual Suspects: Stability at the Top
While ISU took the spotlight, the rest of the field told their own stories.
Fisher College
A perennial powerhouse, Fisher cruised through the bracket with dominant play before falling to Illinois State in the Fall Open Grand Final. Their resilience and consistency remain unmatched among small-school varsity programs.
Northwood Blue
Northwood’s depth continues to be one of the best in collegiate Overwatch. Though they didn’t reach the final this time, they demonstrated the same disciplined approach that has made Northwood synonymous with competitive excellence.
Final Thoughts
Illinois State’s Redbirds may not be the Varsity program that they once were, but they are still proving to be dominant. With their core roster playing simultaneously under the Geekay banner, their skills are still up there.
They’re not over yet, but their continuing as a club program rather than a Varsity team has been bold.
A 4-0 sweep,
Two trophies for the cabinet, and
A proof point that culture and commitment can outperform resources.
Feature image from CECC 2025
