Southern University recently made history as the first HBCU to win the Eastern College Athletic Conference EA Sports College Football National Championship.
In late April, sophomore computer science major Coby Robinson won the championship against Bellarmine University. The student earned the title in Game 5, winning a 38-29 victory. Robinson played with the Texas Longhorns against Bellarmine’s Oregon in the last matchup.
Throughout the competition, Robinson, playing under the alias “K1NGC0BY,” dropped a series of points in Game 1 before winning 41-21 in Game 2. After winning 45-42 in Game 3 with a perfect field goal, he effectively sent Southern University into the national final.
With his win, Southern University became the first HBCU to win a Division II title specifically.
The HBCU’s EDGE program, which is its competitive esports program, is funded entirely by donations, including those from alumni. The director and head coach of the program reportedly assisted in Robinson’s win through film study, breakdowns, simulations and play execution.
“I feel great, happy and accomplished because this has been a dream of mine,” said Robinson per a news release. “To see myself continuing to dominate and make history shows that I belong and that my dream is within reach.”
In recent years, HBCUs have developed initiatives to invest into esports. The change was reportedly born out of the COVID-19 pandemic as the global shutdown forced HBCU leaders, organizations and the Black Collegiate Gaming Association to address the technology gap and build. By providing access to technology, organizations and HBCUs laid the groundwork for the development of HBCU esports communities and research.
In the span of three years, HBCUs began participating in esports competitions, offering up to $500,000 in prize money for competitors. Overall, nearly $15 million in prize money and scholarships are offered through esports.
Since 2020, the number of HBCU esports teams has grown exponentially, reaching over 50 teams. In Morehouse’s esports team alone, over 250 students are actively taking part in tournaments such as the Mtn Dew Real Change Challenge tournament. In 2023, two Morehouse students received a $50,000 Call of Duty contract by participating in the tournament.
The esports teams are predicted to continue growing. Initiatives to increase the number of women in gaming are already actively in motion.
“It’s very important for Black women to be in the space, because you can only tell your story from your perspective,” said Sinclaire Hoyt, the founder of the esports team at Spelman College, per an interview. “You can’t have somebody who’s going to try to design how you look, talk, how you move. It’s very important for us to get not only in front of the camera but behind the camera, not in front of the controller but [also] behind the controller.”
