Scholastic and collegiate esports platform PlayVS and media company Urban One have announced the official name and logo for their joint HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) collegiate esports initiative: the Power4+ HBCU Esports League.
Building on a three-year partnership established earlier this year, the organisations confirmed that 25 historically Black colleges and universities, including institutions such as Howard University, Bowie State University, Clark Atlanta University, and Grambling State University, have committed to participate in the league.
The initiative aims to create a dedicated, fee-free competitive ecosystem within the PlayVS College League (PCL) to provide students with structured competition and career development pathways in gaming and technology.
Also read:
- BLAST partners with Circuit X to run North American qualifiers for BLAST Porto
- FIA opens public tender for official esports championship promoters
- Riot Games launches ‘The Phoenix Arms’ esports pub for VALORANT Masters London
The partnership is structured around a multi-phase rollout leading up to the official season kickoff in February 2027. An advisory committee comprised of esports leaders from the participating institutions is scheduled to convene in summer 2026 to finalise the league’s operational structure and select the official game titles.
Following this, a series of invitational competitions is planned for the autumn of 2026 to facilitate early engagement for brand partners. The inaugural season will culminate in an in-person national championship event.
“By partnering with Urban One, we are combining best-in-class competition with powerful storytelling and national reach,” said Charles O’Donnell, Director of Collegiate at PlayVS. “We’re building a long-term pipeline that supports students from competition to careers in gaming, technology, and beyond.”
By targeting HBCUs, the league aims to bridge the opportunity gap within the industry, positioning the partnership as a turnkey solution for brands seeking to engage with the Black gaming community.
“The rapid adoption we’re seeing from HBCUs across the country affirms both the cultural relevance and the economic potential of esports within our community,” added Alvord Reese, AVP of Sales at Urban One. “Black consumers continuously drive cultural and commercial trends, and gaming is no exception.”
The partnership leverages the complementary strengths of both entities: PlayVS provides the underlying scholastic and collegiate infrastructure, while Urban One, which reaches 80 million unique monthly users, offers significant media reach and cultural access.
Follow The Esports Radar on social media:
