Today, the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) released more information about its 2024-25 Nationals, including specific details on how to qualify and the reformatted point structure, as well as more information about the last chance qualifying tournaments that will be held.
Each of the full Nationals tournaments will consist of a Last Chance Qualifier and a full Playoff bracket of competition.
This year's NECC Nationals event will also feature an in-person championship LAN event for our top teams from Division 1.
During each of the last two years, we have used very different formats and efforts to determine how teams qualified for the championship tournament, and this year our goal is to grab the best of both formats to provide the best championship experience for our NECC member institutions.
Auto-Qualification
Teams that win their playoff bracket will automatically earn a spot in the playoff bracket of Nationals. This will be an auto-qualification slot from both semesters - Fall and Spring.
For some divisions of competition, this will include up to eight slots per semester but at our top end, it is only one per semester.
If the same team were to win both semesters of play, the second semester qualification would be awarded to the runner-up team.
Last Chance Qualifier
Teams that do not gain an auto-qualification spot will have a chance to go through our Last Chance Qualifier. To make it to the Last Chance Qualifier, teams will have to be among the top point earners in that division.
The top 8 or 16 point earning teams will play in the Last Chance Qualifier bracket. The top teams from this bracket will qualify for the Nationals Playoff bracket.
New Points System
Heavy Season Rating vs Heavy Playoff Rating
For the purposes of full transparency on this effort, the chart below explores the options that the NECC's Competition Committee explored for qualification into the Nationals Championship field, as well as bids for LCQ competition.
Option 1 featured a heavier point allotment for season placements. Option 2 was leaning more on playoff placements and results, while Option 3 is a fully-balanced point system between both the season and playoffs.
Ultimately, Option 2 was selected and supported by the members of the Competition Committee and is the one we will be using for the 2024-25 academic year of competition.
|
Season Placement |
Previous |
Option 1 |
Option 2 |
Option 3 |
|
1 |
75 |
100 |
75 |
100 |
|
2 |
60 |
85 |
65 |
85 |
|
3 |
55 |
75 |
55 |
75 |
|
4 |
50 |
60 |
50 |
60 |
|
5 |
45 |
50 |
40 |
50 |
|
6 |
40 |
40 |
30 |
40 |
|
7 |
35 |
30 |
25 |
30 |
|
8 |
30 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
|
Playoff Placement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1 |
100 |
50 |
100 |
100 |
|
2 |
80 |
40 |
85 |
85 |
|
3 |
60 |
30 |
75 |
75 |
|
4 |
60 |
25 |
60 |
60 |
|
QF |
40 |
10 |
50 |
40 |
|
Max Points Possible |
160 |
140 |
160 |
185 |
|
Minimum Playoff Points |
90 |
70 |
100 |
100 |
Point Reductions
Finally, for teams that change one division (moving down during the course of the academic year), this will result in a 30% reduction in points earned. Changing two divisions will result in a 50% point reduction. Changing three divisions will result in a loss of all points.
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/
