OSU Esports secured the Big 12 Championship in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate going undefeated in the tournament and earning a spot in the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup in Arlington later this spring.

OSU esports team captures Big 12 Championship

Friday, March 14, 2025

Media Contact: Shaun Noll | OSU Esports Advisor | 405-744-6903 | shaun.noll@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University recently won another Big 12 Conference Championship, but not in a sport many are aware of.

The weekend of March 1, the OSU Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Team competed against six other conference institutions to win the SSBU tournament. The Cowboys did it in style, going undefeated and beating the University of Houston in the grand finals.

As the Big 12 champion, the team has now qualified for the prestigious College Esports Commissioners Cup and will compete in CECC May Madness, May 2-4 in Arlington, Texas. The tournament will feature more than 320 teams, 185 schools and 1,500 of the nation’s best esports athletes who will vie for the prestigious award in Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Valorant, Street Fighter 6 and, of course, SSBU.

“It means a lot to me, and I think everyone has put in a lot of effort improving together. I think being able to play and compete as Oklahoma State University Esports was just as exciting for us as winning the tournament,” said Noah Hightower, SSBU captain and first-year management information systems graduate student. “That said, we are excited and a bit nervous to travel to Arlington to compete on a national stage as many top players will also be there.”

May Madness is a partnership with Collegiate Sports Management Group and CECC. The livestream schedule will begin on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Twitch. To learn more about May Madness and review the tournament schedule, visit https://www.collegiatesmg.com/cecctexas2025.

Since its inception in 2018, the OSU esports community has continued to grow and expand. The additions of the nearly 2,000-square-foot OSU Esports Arena in the Student Union, the OSU Esports competitive team and Gaming Leadership certificate program demonstrate the commitment and dedication to developing OSU esports as a leader in this rapidly growing field.