DuPage County Esports Event Adds Collegiate Conference Championship

The Big Esports Conference Championship will be held during the Midwest Battleground 2026, a collegiate esports invitational organized by the DuPage Sports Commission in the Chicagoland region.

Midwest Battleground will be in its third year when it returns March 6–8, 2026, offering a weekend of activities for esports athletes, coaches and fans.

The combined events will each crown champions in Valorant, Overwatch 2, Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. More than 100 collegiate teams are expected to attend the competition, with 72 competing in Midwest Battleground and 32 competing in BEC Championship.

“Midwest Battleground provides an unmatched venue and location for our championship,” said BEC Conference Commissioner Kevin Palmer. “With the deepest roots of the Big Ten belonging in the Midwest, we hope that fans of these institutions, from around this region, are able to come cheer on their favorite school, in a sport that they may have a deeper connection to than traditional sports.”

In addition, a state championship will be staged in Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, hosted by the Illinois High School Esports Association. More than 300 gamers from 40 high school teams from across Illinois are expected to compete — an increase from 31 teams that competed the year prior.

The unified weekend will allow opportunities for each group involved, with high school competitors able to watch BEC teams from other states compete in person and meet their coaches. College athletes competing in the BEC can take advantage of Midwest Battleground’s hands-on workshops, speaker panels, educational sessions and expo.

“DSC’s goal is to give student-athletes a stage that matches their dedication and talent,” said DSC Director of Sports Igor Bakovic. “Through this event, we can provide an exciting platform to foster the next generation of esports stars, spark engagement at every level, and showcase how gamers can thrive in high school, college, and beyond.”

The Big Esports Conference was founded in 2023 as a collaborative effort among the 18 Big Ten institutions. It is the first officially organized power 5 school conference for esports that has all members from the traditional conference participating.