The Division ONE Awards

Across two splits, multiple titles, and a full academic year of competition, Division ONE continued to define what collegiate esports can look like at its highest level. From undefeated runs to mid season turnarounds, the 2025 to 2026 season was not just about who won, it was about who sustained excellence, who evolved, and who ultimately shaped the competitive landscape.

By combining both the Fall and Spring splits, these awards aim to recognize not just peak performances, but full year impact. Consistency, progression, and winning at the highest level all factor into who truly stood out over the course of the season.

Team of the Year - Maryville

There was no debate at the top. Maryville did not just win; they dominated the entire year.

In League of Legends, they opened the Fall Split with a perfect 7 and 0 regular season and followed it with an undefeated playoff run to secure the title. Spring brought more of the same. Maryville once again ran through the competition, claiming a second championship without dropping a series in playoffs.

That dominance extended into VALORANT. Across both splits, Maryville secured back to back titles while maintaining undefeated playoff runs, reinforcing their position as the most complete program in Division ONE.

What separates Maryville is not just the results, it is the lack of vulnerability. Across an entire year of competition, they never gave the league a real opening, setting the standard in both titles and establishing themselves as the undisputed Team of the Year

VALORANT - Player of the Year

Geeza In a season defined by strong individual performances, Geeza stood out as the most complete and consistent player across both splits.

During the Fall Split, Geeza finished near the top of the league in kills, 378, while leading all players in kill to death ratio at 1.66, also placing among the leaders in damage differential. Rather than dropping off, he carried that level into Spring, once again appearing across multiple statistical categories and maintaining high level impact throughout.

While other players posted stronger single split peaks, including Instxnct’s kill numbers in Fall and Hollywood’s dominant Spring statline, neither matched Geeza’s ability to sustain elite performance across the entire year.

Across both splits, Geeza combined production, efficiency, and consistency better than any other player, making him the clear choice for Player of the Year in VALORANT.

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS - Player of the Year

Mobility Mobility’s case for Player of the Year is built on control, consistency, and his role in driving Winthrop’s position as one of the top teams in Division ONE.

Across both splits, he established himself as the most dominant laner in the league, consistently generating early advantages that translated directly into wins. In the Fall Split, he led all players in gold difference at 15 minutes, plus 1.7 thousand, and CS difference at 15, plus 41, setting the tone for Winthrop’s 6 and 1 regular season and second place finish. Rather than dropping off, he carried that impact into Spring, once again helping lead Winthrop to a runner up finish and maintaining his presence among the league’s top performers in key laning and economy metrics.

What separates Mobility is not just peak performance, but repetition. While other players reached higher highs in a single split, he maintained elite production across the entire year, consistently putting Winthrop in winning positions regardless of opponent.

Winthrop remained one of the few teams capable of challenging the top of the league across both splits, and Mobility was at the center of that consistency. His ability to control the early game, create advantages, and sustain that level of play over a full season makes him the clearest choice for Player of the Year in League of Legends.

Most Improved Team - Boise State

Improvement across a full season is defined by more than small gains, it is about changing a team’s position in the league. In both VALORANT and League of Legends, one program in each title clearly made that leap.

In VALORANT, Boise State delivered the most complete turnaround of the year. After finishing at the bottom of the standings in the Fall Split and struggling to consistently compete, they returned in Spring as a playoff team, establishing themselves as a far more competitive and structured roster. Their rise represents the clearest shift in position within the league, moving from the lowest tier into postseason contention.