College Rocket League Returns for Spring 2026 With $55K In Awards

As the Spring 2026 semester approaches, the Collegiate Rocket League (CRL) is set to return and there will be $55,000 available in scholastic awards. 

In related esports/college news, Full Sail University recently teamed up with Tribe Gaming to launch an esports internship program. 

Full Roadmap Announced

On X, the Rocket League Esports account released a complete roadmap for College Rocket League. 

COLLEGE ROCKET LEAGUE IS RETURNING FOR SPRING 2026 🚨

🔸 League Play expanded to 16 teams
🔸 Open Qualifier 1: February 15
🔸 Registration closes: February 10

Full info: https://t.co/mdxrIeHi9T pic.twitter.com/2WLsvXqpNM

— Rocket League Esports (@RLEsports) February 2, 2026

The reaction to the news was positive overall. 

"THANK YOU FOR LISTENING 16 TEAM LEAGUE PLAY IS HUGEEE," one fan wrote. 

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The CRL Schedule

Here's a full schedule: 

• Open Qualifier 1: Feb. 15
• Open Qualifier 2: Feb. 28

Registration closes on Feb. 10 and 24, respectively. 

From there, the top 17 teams from the Open Qualifiers will compete in a Round Robin League Play event. 

• Week 1: March 8, 2026
• Week 2: March 15, 2026
• Week 3: March 22, 2026
• Week 4: April 4, 2026
• Week 5: April 19, 2026

The top four teams from League play will advance to the Spring Championship. The bottom 12 teams will still have a chance with the CRL Last Chance Qualifier. 

Before the Last Chance Qualifier, though, there will be Open 3v3 Tournaments where the top eight teams will earn a spot in the Last Chance Qualifier. 

Those 3v3 tournaments take place on March 12, 19, and 26.

Then, the Last Chance Qualifier, which features the bottom 12 teams from League Play and the top eight teams from Open 3v3 Tournaments. 

The Last Chance Qualifier will occur on April 26.

Finally, the top four teams from League Play and the top two from the Last Chance Qualifier will progress to the Spring Championship, which will played across two days on May 2 and 3. 

As a side note, there's also Open 2v2 Tournaments taking place on April 23 and 30, separate from the Spring Championship progression.