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Utah eSports program brings the growing business of competitive gaming to Power 5

ByDerek Helling|
PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 19: US E-Sports player, Ian Porter, gamertag 'Crimsix' of the OpTic Gaming's team competes during the final of the video game 'Call of Duty' developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision during an electronic video game tournament at the eSports World Convention (ESWC) on February 19, 2017 in Paris, France. The ESWC is the historic and emblematic event of electronic sports, bringing together every year since 2003 the best players in the world in video game tournaments designed as real live shows and broadcast live on the Internet or on television. 20 of the biggest American teams of Call of Duty will be present to compete in the tournament CWL Paris Open. Never had an event organized in Europe so much engaged the American eSport community. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 19: US E-Sports player, Ian Porter, gamertag 'Crimsix' of the OpTic Gaming's team competes during the final of the video game 'Call of Duty' developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision during an electronic video game tournament at the eSports World Convention (ESWC) on February 19, 2017 in Paris, France. The ESWC is the historic and emblematic event of electronic sports, bringing together every year since 2003 the best players in the world in video game tournaments designed as real live shows and broadcast live on the Internet or on television. 20 of the biggest American teams of Call of Duty will be present to compete in the tournament CWL Paris Open. Never had an event organized in Europe so much engaged the American eSport community. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)

The University of Utah has become the nation’s first Power 5 conference school to sponsor a varsity eSports team.

The Utes are making a mark on the League of Legends universe, as the Utah eSports program has brought some of the massive sponsorship potential of Power 5 conferences and schools to the LOL world.

Though several smaller schools already have officially recognized eSports teams, and 12 Big Ten club teams competed in a tournament televised on the Big Ten Network last year, Utah is the first Power 5 school to offer scholarships for and officially recognize eSports, according to a press release from the school.

While it’s not clear if the school plans on this venture being a revenue generator like football and men’s basketball are at any point, it could help attract students and be a boost to the school in that way. At the very least, the reputation of the school in the growing business of eSports has risen.

The bigger winner in this deal is Riot Games, the creator of League of Legends, and all the other components of eSports.

Power 5 conferences and schools carry with them millions of dollars in investment and sponsorship potential. If LOL competitions between varsity Power 5 teams expand into conference-regulated affairs, that could mean many more dollars would be poured into the eSport.

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If enough conferences begin championship structures over the next few years, a national championship competition could become a possibility. As professional LOL leagues have already landed sponsorships from companies like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Nissan and Red Bull, it would be a new space for sponsors to fill.

Collegiate eSports are going big time, and Utah is on the leading edge of that right now. How quickly it escalates from here remains to be seen, but what’s certain is that escalation will take place as more schools follow the Utes.

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