Seton Hall University has announced the addition of a varsity VALORANT team to its esports program for the Spring 2026 season. This expansion marks the most extensive lineup in the program’s history.
The upcoming season will also introduce a new conference format, where Seton Hall faces one BIG EAST opponent each week across all esports titles. In this format, every Seton Hall team plays their respective matches against the same conference rival during that week. The university states that this approach is intended to strengthen school rivalries and provide a more unified experience for both players and fans.
“Adding VALORANT and moving to a school-based format represents an important step forward for the program,” said Victor Gomez, esports manager at Seton Hall University. “It brings our teams together under a shared competitive identity and gives new players an immediate introduction to BIG EAST play.”
Seton Hall’s established programs are preparing for adjustments required by the new structure, which emphasizes consistent weekly performance and collaboration among rosters.
In League of Legends, head coach Jacob Black highlighted the challenges brought by recent game updates: “With recent game changes and updates, this season gives us a great opportunity to see how the roster responds in a conference setting,” he said. “BIG EAST play is always competitive and these matches will show us where we stand and what we can build on.”
Rocket League remains one of Seton Hall’s core offerings. Head coach Antonio Riozzi commented on integrating newer players into high-level competition: “There’s a strong legacy behind Rocket League at Seton Hall and the expectation is always to compete at a high level,” he said. “This season is about bringing parts of the roster into BIG EAST competition and helping them understand what it takes to succeed at this level.”
Other teams such as Overwatch 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are focusing on consistency as they begin their seasons, using regular conference matchups as benchmarks for progress.
The newly formed VALORANT team enters its first BIG EAST competition this week. Led by captain Uriel Concepcion (Approved), preseason efforts have centered on building communication skills, discipline, and situational awareness—qualities considered essential in competitive VALORANT play.
Seton Hall Esports will start BIG EAST conference matches during the week of January 19 with set days and times assigned for each title throughout the semester. The full schedule can be found through the Seton Hall Esports events calendar.
Postseason play is scheduled to begin in March with semifinal rounds leading up to the BIG EAST championship later that month. Fans are encouraged to follow along for ongoing updates throughout the spring season.
