Project 3 Discord: https://discord.gg/tXStc8axeR
Today, the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) announced plans for the fall semester of competition for Project 3. Project 3 is in its second year and is open exclusively to NCAA Division III member institutions.
The series of tournaments will take place this fall over three consecutive weekends and will feature three popular core titles that the NECC currently sponsors.
The winner of each tournament will receive a custom championship trophy to commemorate their win.
The tournaments are open to each of the 422 colleges and universities classified as Division III for National Collegiate Athletic Association competition. Division III is currently the largest division in the NCAA by school membership count.
Once again this year, schools do not need to be a member of the NECC to compete in Project 3, and there is no cost to participate.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to help spearhead the first Division III Esports Tournaments,” said Curt Kimm, Head Coach / Director of Esports at Coe College.
Kimm, who also serves as a board member for the NECC continued, “Division III schools make up the largest proportion of collegiate esports programs in the country. While the traditional NECC structure allows NCAA Division III members to compete against all schools, this will be an opportunity for Division III schools to find out who the best is within our NCAA Division. I encourage all D3 schools, no matter your team’s skill, to sign up for the tournaments!”
“Following our Project 1 effort, we had a handful of schools and directors reach out to us about creating something similar for NCAA Division III members,” said NECC Commissioner Jacob VanRyn.
“I'm appreciative of all the work that Curt Kimm has done to spearhead this effort, along with our entire staff to bring this concept back for another semester. We're excited for these events this fall. Hopefully this keeps growing and we can continue to build this going forward."
2026 Fall Semester Schedule of Events
October 17-18: Overwatch 2
October 24-25: Valorant
October 31-November 1: Rocket League
All tournaments will be double elimination brackets, seeded by team rank. Most schools have been imported onto the site, but please create a ticket or reach out to Jacob VanRyn (jacob@necc.gg) if you need assistance accessing your school page or need a school set up.
Registration will close one full day before games start
ABOUT THE NECC
The NECC fosters innovative competition experiences, provides quality broadcasting services, and works to support an inclusive community within collegiate esports. The NECC was started to provide the collegiate gaming community with the respect it warranted and deserved. The conference prides itself on responding to the needs of its schools, directors, coaches, and most importantly - its players.
With more than 500 colleges and universities currently competing, the NECC strives to be a positive home for the collegiate gaming community.
For more information about the NECC, their schools, games, and community, visit their website at https://necc.gg/
