Collegiate Esports From a Student's Perspective With Ben Cuomo

Collegiate esports in North America continues to experience significant growth, yet this expansion is accompanied by structural and organizational challenges. Questions of governance, competitive fragmentation, and the student-athlete experience remain central to discussions about the future of the industry. To explore these dynamics, we turn to the perspective of Ben Cuomo , a Marketing & Partnerships Associate at Esportian Education and an undergraduate student at Baldwin Wallace University. Ben’s dual perspective as both a student and program leader offers critical insight into the strengths and shortcomings of the current collegiate ecosystem.

National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) has emerged as a leading organization attempting to bring legitimacy and structure to the space. However, he stresses that its role remains incomplete when compared to bodies such as the NCAA in traditional athletics. NACE provides important consistency in eligibility standards and tournament organization, yet its influence is far from universal. Many institutions operate outside its framework, participating in other circuits or organizing their own competitions.

Ben argues that this fragmented governance leads to uncertainty. For administrators, it complicates decisions about long-term investment. For student-athletes, it obscures which leagues and titles should be prioritized for recognition and development. While NACE represents a positive step toward standardization, collegiate esports still lacks a cohesive governing system capable of providing uniformity across the ecosystem.

From the standpoint of students, the proliferation of leagues is both a benefit and a burden. On one hand, it increases access to competitive opportunities, allowing students to showcase their skills across multiple platforms. On the other hand, this abundance often results in overlapping schedules, competitive burnout, and diluted program identity.

As he observes, student-athletes frequently face the task of balancing several league commitments while also meeting academic requirements. This tension is particularly problematic because many students lack the resources to determine which competitions carry the greatest weight for their athletic and professional development. The result is an ecosystem where enthusiasm and opportunity are abundant, but clarity and structure remain elusive.

In his capacity at Baldwin Wallace, Ben gained firsthand experience in the complexities of program development. He emphasizes that recruitment, while important, cannot be the sole measure of success. Instead, effective programs must cultivate a balanced environment that integrates competitive achievement with student growth. This includes creating leadership, teamwork, and communication skills that extend beyond gaming and into professional life.

He highlights that without these broader developmental goals, programs risk overemphasizing short-term wins at the expense of long-term sustainability. Collegiate esports, he argues, must prepare students for futures both within and outside of competitive play.

Looking ahead, Ben envisions a collegiate esports ecosystem characterized by greater alignment among governing bodies, independent leagues, and game publishers. He believes that a more coherent system would provide students with streamlined competitive pathways, reduce burnout, and allow institutions to allocate resources more effectively. Furthermore, Ben stresses that partnerships between universities and local communities will be crucial for ensuring the long-term stability of collegiate programs.

His reflections communicate the central challenge facing collegiate esports: how to balance rapid growth with organizational coherence. While students benefit from unprecedented access to competition, the absence of unified governance leaves them navigating a fragmented system. Ben’s perspective underscores the need for consolidation, clarity, and student-centered approaches. By addressing these issues, collegiate esports can move toward a future that ensures both competitive excellence and sustainable educational value.