This article was created in partnership with Rally Cry.
After a successful launch of the Rally Cry Event Support Program in 2025, the project plans to continue elevating collegiate Esports in the future.
Founded in 2020 by Adam Rosen, Rally Cry’s mission is “to serve everyday gamers by building opportunities for all ages and skill levels.” A crucial piece of this mission starts with collegiate esports and its future.
After years of commitment to the esports scene, the company created the Rally Cry Event Support Program, “a nationwide initiative supporting student-run gaming events and delivering immersive esports experiences directly to campuses.” Launching their recent partnership with Twitch University, Rally Cry continues to exceed high expectations.
Going into the 2025-2026 academic school year, the Rally Cry x Twitch Partnership created College Event Support: “a Rally Cry-led initiative that equips student organizers with funding, swag, and mentorship to elevate grassroots gaming events.”
Michael “Fridgy” Suscello, Rally Cry’s Partnership Manager, shares more about Rally Cry’s mission and goal in the collegiate Esports industry.
“Rally Cry aims to set a good example of what a collegiate partner should be. Offering funding for young collegiate esports clubs to run events, providing our platform to collegiate leagues in their infancy, providing powerful technology allowing the nation’s biggest leagues to scale, and ultimately providing a more sustainable place for established organizations to grow,” Suscello said.
This initiative helped kickstart events within collegiate, high school, and even the national stage.
Their partnership with Twitch University enables Rally Cry to supply these schools with their custom swag to give away and raise awareness to students on and off campus. Suscello explains, “Through Twitch University, students gain access to educational resources, collaborative opportunities, and direct support from Twitch, creating a foundation for sustainable growth in the streaming space.”
In collegiate, they provided support for the City University of New York Finals, helped fund the Dreamhack Collegiate Invitational, partnered with the Bayou Classic, and created the Rally Cry Championship Tour.
The Rally Cry Championship Tour targets the collegiate football audience, in-person and in-game. Throughout the tour, it features an EA Sports College Football 25 online league and a physical mobile gaming truck traveling to college campuses weekly for in-person competitions targeting famous collegiate football rivalries. In these hybrid competitions, players are eligible for prize pool money and custom championship trophies. Fans can tune in on Twitch to support their favorite schools and teams across the country.
Building up the future of collegiate, Rally Cry assisted in helping with the Michigan State High School League, Keiser University High School Combine, Kentucky High School Athletic Association Finals, and Scholastic Esports Championship.
Collaborating with Keiser University, Rally Cry helped create an environment to welcome high schoolers, introducing them to collegiate esports and providing them the opportunity to network. The combine saw games such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Fortnite, VALORANT, and Marvel Rivals. The weekend was full of activities, including high school coaches, players, and broadcasting talent coming together to continue growing collegiate esports together. With over 100 attendees and twenty high schools in attendance, the event was a success.
Ending the spring 2025 semester with a bang, the Scholastic Esports Championship highlighted collegiate and high school Esports in San Antonio, TX, showing over 200 teams and 800 students across the nation. While powering the event, Rally Cry partnered with the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), the Electronic Gaming Foundation (EGF), and the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT) R20 Premiere Esports League. Across five different titles, the tournament saw intense matches and a whole lot of energy, powered by community and connection.
Suscello references Rally Cry’s work with the Scholarship Esports Championship as a key factor, showing commitment to the future of collegiate Esports: “Whether it’s hosting national LANs like Scholastic Esports Championship, providing the tech for esports publishers across the U.S, or supporting grassroots clubs, Rally Cry exists to help gamers compete, connect, and grow through gaming.
The national level featured events such as Anime Weekend Atlanta and LANFest Sacramento, as well as spotlighted collegiate events through the Dreamhack Collegiate Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia. These tournaments are streamed live across the country, highlighting young, developing talent in the United States.
“Rally Cry will continue to leverage our partners to provide opportunities for everyone and raise the floor in esports,” Suscello states. In total, Rally Cry supported twelve events in the last year, with more to come in the future.
As success continues to skyrocket, Rally Cry partnered with the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the United States Space Force. According to Rally Cry’s official press release, this partnership will create a competitive ecosystem with year-round competition, streamlined operations, recognition and highlights, and inclusive play with the goal of making competitive gaming accessible and celebrated. To join colleges or university programs, teams, or clubs can register online, obtaining a membership via the ECAC website.
Suscello states the next big thing for Rally Cry and collegiate Esports: “March is going to be a big month for us. While out on the road recruiting students to help us run our gaming truck at college basketball fanfests; We plan to announce a new event support partner, a major brand that I have no doubt every college will want to take advantage of! We also plan to announce a LAN Event Rally Cry is hosting later this year. Follow us on X (@teamRallyCry) to stay up to date when the news drops!”
With much more to come in the next year, Rally Cry will continue to advocate and support collegiate Esports from the smallest to the biggest stage. Assistance from companies like Rally Cry makes it possible for collegiate Esports to grow and blossom in the years to come
Suscello talks about how Rally Cry is open to any and all opportunities within the Esports space, ranging from high school to national events. “Rally Cry is looking for any type of esports event, big or small! We also expand outside of Collegiate esports events, supporting high school and community events!”
To register for Rally Cry Event Support to receive funding and swag, applicants can submit via a Google Form link, found on Rally Cry’s official website.
