University of Sioux Falls Launches Esports Program With Scholarships and New Gaming Arena

The University of Sioux Falls is getting into collegiate esports this fall, with plans for a new coed program, a dedicated gaming arena, scholarships worth up to $2,500 a year and five games on the opening roster.

Competition is set to begin in fall 2026. The University of Sioux Falls esports program will operate at the club level and is already recruiting students for its first season.

USF says esports has become one of the fastest-growing sports on college campuses, and the university sees the new program as another way to reach students who may not have found a place in more traditional campus activities.

The school is also investing in a new gaming arena that will be used for practice, competition and content creation.

University of Sioux Falls Esports Begins This Fall

USF plans to field a coed team when competition starts later this year.

University President Brett Bradfield described esports as “a powerful intersection of student opportunity, technology, and community,” saying the program could give students who may not otherwise have participated in sports or other campus activities a chance to represent the university competitively.

The launch comes at a time when more colleges are treating esports as something beyond an informal gaming club. Schools around the country are hiring coaches, building dedicated facilities and offering scholarships to students who compete.

USF is taking a similar approach from the start.

Libby Franken Will Lead the New Program

The university hired Libby Franken as its first esports coach in February.

Franken spent four years competing in Valorant at Buena Vista University and also served as a team captain.

She was part of the Buena Vista squad that defeated UW-Green Bay in December 2023 to win the NECC Navigators Midwest championship, the program’s first NECC title.

At USF, Franken has said she wants the program to be about more than results on screen. Teamwork, strategy and academic success will also be part of what players are expected to bring to the team.

Her immediate focus is putting together the roster that will represent USF in its first competitive season.

Five Games Are Confirmed for Year One

The University of Sioux Falls esports program will start with five titles:

• League of Legends
• Marvel Rivals
• Overwatch 2
• Rocket League
• Valorant

USF has left the door open to adding more games later if there is enough student interest.

The opening lineup gives the school a mix of established esports titles and newer competitive games.

League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch 2 and Rocket League already have strong competitive communities, while Marvel Rivals gives the program a newer title to build around as it enters competition.

A New Gaming Arena Is Part of the Plan

USF is also investing in a dedicated gaming arena on campus.

The space is expected to be used for team practices and competitions, but the university also wants it to support content creation.

That gives the program a permanent home from the beginning rather than having players rely on general computer labs or temporary setups.

For a new club-level esports program, that is a significant part of the launch.

Scholarships Worth Up to $2,500 Are Available

Students who make the team will also have access to renewable esports scholarships worth up to $2,500 per year.

Recruiting for the first roster is already underway.

Students interested in the University of Sioux Falls esports program can find more information through the university’s esports page or contact the program directly.

The combination of scholarships, a dedicated coach and a purpose-built gaming space gives USF’s program more structure than a typical student gaming club.

USF Is Joining an Existing South Dakota Esports Scene

USF is not the first South Dakota college to invest in competitive gaming.

Dakota State University and South Dakota Mines already operate school-supported esports programs with structured competitive rosters.

Augustana University established its esports program in fall 2022 and formed its first competitive team the following year.

Dakota Wesleyan University also runs an esports program with scheduled practices, academic and wellness requirements and scholarship support.

The University of South Dakota takes a slightly different approach, operating an esports club with a dedicated director, an on-campus arena and student scholarships. Its teams practice and compete regularly across multiple conferences.

South Dakota State University’s esports activity is centered more around its student club and Jacks Esports gaming facility than a formal athletics program.

That means USF is entering a state where collegiate esports is already established, but where schools have taken different approaches to how their programs are organized and supported.

University of Sioux Falls Esports Starts Competition in Fall 2026

USF now has the main pieces in place ahead of its first season.

The five-game lineup has been announced, recruiting is underway, Libby Franken has been hired as the program’s first coach and the university is backing the launch with scholarships and a dedicated gaming facility.

The University of Sioux Falls esports program will officially begin competition in fall 2026.