Partnership unveiled at 2026 May Madness and will have male and female categories to compete in online races and qualifiers nationwide with the championships held in May 2027
WACO, Texas — May 6, 2026 — Init Esports today officially announced a partnership with Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) to bring sim racing to the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup (CECC), the nation’s largest collegiate esports championship event. The partnership was was unveiled live on May 2 during the CECC May Madness, which is produced by CSMG, in Waco, Texas, marking a defining moment for the future of collegiate motorsports gaming.
Beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year, Init Esports and the CECC will roll out a structured collegiate sim racing program designed to give student-athletes a competitive, high-performance platform to race, develop, and earn recognition. The program will feature both male and female categories, reinforcing a shared commitment to expanding access and visibility for women in motorsports.
Additional details regarding online races, qualifiers, and the full season format will be released in the coming weeks. Colleges interested in participating are encouraged to begin assembling their sim racing teams now, so they are ready to enter the qualifying process as soon as registration opens.
“Sim racing belongs in the collegiate esports landscape. Partnering with Init Esports gives the CECC a world-class operator who understands competition, athlete development, and the culture of motorsports. This is a milestone for our member institutions and for every student who has been waiting for a real path to compete in sim racing at the college level.” — Angela Bernhard Thomas, Chief Esports Officer, CECC / CSMG and EsportsU
“Bringing sim racing to U.S. colleges has been a mission of ours from day one. The CECC is the right home for this program because they share our standards: real competition, real opportunity, and real pathways for both men and women. Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, every college in America can build a sim racing team and have somewhere meaningful to race. This is just the beginning.” — Stefy Bau, Founder & CEO, Init Esports
The collegiate sim racing program will operate under the CECC competitive framework with Init Esports leading race operations, athlete experience, and the technical platform. Schedules, eligibility guidelines, and registration information will be communicated through CECC and Init Esports channels in the weeks ahead.
About the CECC
Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) is an integrated sports, entertainment, and media company committed to advancing traditional sports and esports. The company has expertise in Media Rights, Analytics, Licensing, Sponsorship Sales, Brand Building, Original Content, and Event Production. We empower sports properties, brands, and video game publishers to succeed at the crossroads of tech, sports, entertainment, and video games. Through innovation, efficiency and execution, CSMG has created transformative opportunities, driving growth in traditional sports while unifying and elevating the scholastic esports ecosystem. To learn more, visit us at https://collegiatesmg.com/.
About Init Esports
Init Esports focuses on sim racing events and digital tournaments. They bring eSports content to fans and sponsorship opportunities to brands, while maximizing audience reach across multiple sports, industries, and platforms. Init Esports is a woman-led company where Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility is in their DNA, and their platform aims to combat bullying and cheating to help make the eSports world as safe and fair as possible. To learn more, be sure to logon to www.initesports.gg today or follow them on social media @initesports, join their discord, check out their YouTube Channel, or follow their live content via Twitch.
At Init Esports, founder and CEO Stefy Bau doesn’t just settle for the ordinary. She creates extraordinary experiences by producing thrilling online competitions and real-life events that transcend the boundaries of the eSports universe. And she’s here with us on Break/Fix to share her story, and help you understand why you need to get more involved in the world of eSports.
