PlayVS, Urban One Launch Power4+ HBCU Esports League

PlayVS and Urban One launched the Power4+ HBCU Esports League, a fee-free collegiate esports circuit for 25 historically Black colleges and universities. The league will run within the PlayVS College League and its first official season starts in February 2027.

Confirmed participants include Howard University, Bowie State University, Clark Atlanta University and Grambling State University. Organizers intend the league to provide structured competition and career development pathways for students interested in gaming and technology.

The initiative builds on a three-year partnership between PlayVS and Urban One. PlayVS will supply competition infrastructure and league management tools. Urban One will manage media distribution and cultural outreach; the company reports about 80 million unique monthly users.

A phased rollout begins with an advisory committee of esports leaders from participating schools meeting in summer 2026 to finalize the league’s operational structure and choose official game titles. Invitational competitions are scheduled for autumn 2026 to allow early engagement with brand partners before the full season.

The inaugural season will end with an in-person national championship. The program includes internships, mentoring and industry connections intended to link students with opportunities in game development, event production, broadcast, marketing and related technology fields.

Charles O’Donnell, director of collegiate at PlayVS, described the partnership as ‘combining best-in-class competition with powerful storytelling and national reach.’ Alvord Reese, AVP of sales at Urban One, noted rapid uptake among HBCUs and highlighted Black consumers’ influence on cultural and commercial trends.