ATLANTA, GA -- In a season defined by transition, resilience, and growth, SCAD League of Legends delivered the strongest competitive year in program history, finishing with a 24-6 overall record while establishing itself among the nation's top collegiate esports programs.

Competing against programs from every major athletic conference in North America, SCAD concluded the 2025-26 season ranked 12^th overall in College League of Legends (CLOL) standings out of 310 teams nationwide. The finish marked a significant step forward for the program after ending inside the national top 16 a season ago and represented the deepest national run in SCAD history.

SCAD also turned in an impressive postseason performance in the PCL circuit, ending in the Top 4 among 95 teams and advancing to the league's LAN Top 8 Playoffs held May 1-3 in Waco, Texas. The program navigated a major transition from SCAD Savannah to SCAD Atlanta, entering the year with a rebuilt roster and new challenges both on and off the Rift. The Bees quickly adapted to their new environment and developed into one of the most consistent teams in collegiate play.

A major factor in SCAD's success came through the addition of Shern "Shernfire" Tai, whose collegiate debut brought veteran leadership and structure to the roster throughout the season. Widely respected for his experience and understanding of the game, Shernfire became a stabilizing force for the team's mid-game decision making and overall tempo.

Alongside him, walk-on Wyatt "ThatsAToad" Todd emerged as one of the team's breakout contributors in his first collegiate season, consistently performing under pressure and helping solidify the roster during key stretches of conference and national play.

SCAD's postseason run was highlighted by a 2-0 upset victory over Northwood University during the PCL LAN event in Waco, Texas. Northwood has long been regarded as one of the top collegiate League of Legends premier programs, consistently finishing inside the national Top 8 and reaching the CLOL Top 4 just two years ago. The win served as a statement moment for SCAD on the national stage and underscored the program's continued ascent.

"This season demanded a level of adaptability and resilience from our players that cannot be overstated," said Head Coach Nicholas Daigle. "The transition from Savannah to Atlanta brought with it a completely new environment, new systems, and natural difficulties, yet our team remained committed to a shared standard of excellence throughout the process. To produce the most successful national finish in program history amid that level of change speaks volumes about the character, discipline, and competitive maturity of this group."

With a historic finish, a national LAN appearance, and one of the strongest records in collegiate competition this season, SCAD closes the year with significant momentum as the program continues establishing itself among collegiate North American elite esports contenders.