Southern University announced on Apr. 16 that its E-sports and Digital Gaming Ecosystem (EDGE) is among the first historically Black colleges and universities to join the new National HBCU Esports Community, a program launched by PlayVS and Urban One. The initiative aims to create a dedicated, long-term competitive gaming platform for HBCUs across the country.
The partnership is intended to expand access, visibility, and opportunities for collegiate esports participation among students at historically Black colleges and universities. By combining Urban One’s media reach with PlayVS’s collegiate competition infrastructure, organizers say they hope to provide both increased exposure and access for student gamers.
“As pioneers in the collegiate space, Southern University EDGE athletics is excited to join forces with PlayVS and Urban One,” said Christopher Turner, esports program director at Southern University. “This partnership bridges the gap between competitive gaming and the vibrant culture of HBCUs, meeting our students exactly where they are with a dedicated stage to showcase their skills and leadership.”
According to the announcement, Urban One’s media platforms will be used to highlight stories from HBCUs as well as promote esports culture and student leadership within these institutions. Through this collaboration, students from Southern University will have more opportunities for competition as well as potential scholarship support and career pathways in technology or media fields.
The three-year partnership was developed within the PlayVS College League framework. It will offer structured competition formats along with national exposure regardless of each school’s current level of esports programming. Registration for schools interested in joining opens in fall 2026; the first season of competition is scheduled for spring 2027.
