BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 18, 2025 — Boise State will face three new challengers this fall as the University of Minnesota, University of Utah and Baylor University join the Power Esports Conference (PEC) for the 2025-26 season, pushing league membership to nine. The move injects three brand-name programs into an already deep field. Two of the programs, Utah and Minnesota, have storied histories, while Baylor will enter into its first competitive season in 2025-26.
The timing lands squarely in the Broncos' wheelhouse. Boise State enters the new year as the reigning champion in Rocket League and Overwatch 2, with Michigan State owning the 2025 crowns in Valorant and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The expansion amplifies a schedule that already features Syracuse, Nebraska, Kansas and Ohio State, and it promises more top-tier matchups, tighter broadcasts and bigger spotlights across the fall slate.
From the Boise State perspective, the headline is simple: three new challengers, three different profiles.
New Guys on the Block:
Minnesota arrives with Big Ten cachet and real institutional momentum around esports. Within Gopher Athletics, IT leader Doug Goon has been a visible champion for organizing and elevating the university's competitive gaming footprint, a push that's drawn attention on campus and beyond.
"Joining the Power Esports Conference is an exciting step forward for our program," Goon said. "We're eager to compete at a higher level and give our students a platform to showcase their skills on a national stage."
Utah brings a pioneering pedigree. The Utes launched the first varsity-level esports program from any Power Five school back in 2017 and have kept competitive integrity and student development central to their model—an alignment that should translate immediately inside the PEC.
"Utah Esports is proud to join a conference that aligns with our vision for competitive integrity, academic balance, and program growth," A.J. Dimick, Esports Director at Utah said.
Baylor joins on the heels of a program reboot, hiring Adam Stanley as director of esports and head coach in May 2025. Stanley arrives from Brewton-Parker College with a reputation for building winners and infrastructure, giving the Bears a clear identity from day one.
"This is a great opportunity for our players, our fans, and our institution," Stanley said. "We're honored to be part of a growing and respected esports ecosystem."
What's Next:
For Boise State, the calculus is familiar: embrace the smoke. Under head coach and program director Dr. Chris "Doc" Haskell—an award-winning builder of players, casters and staff—the Broncos have treated conference expansion as an invitation to level up production, prep and player development. That formula has yielded trophies across multiple titles and one of the most robust pipelines for collegiate broadcast talent anywhere in the country.
Beyond the competitive bump, the Power Esports Conference's growth in 2025 adds layers that matter in Boise: more rivalry inventory for the broadcast desk, more reps for student producers and analysts, and more chances for the Broncos to test strategies against fresh looks from three distinct regions. The end result is a tougher regular season that should sharpen the postseason edge.
Schedules, match ups and broadcast partnerships are expected in the coming weeks. For now, the takeaway on the Blue is clear: the PEC just leveled up—and so did Boise State's next challenge.
