CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Lesley University eSports program received its first national preseason ranking, based on the National Poll released on Monday, September 8, 2025 by Colleague, the nationally recognized collegiate eSports ranking platform.

The Lesley University Fall 2025 Rocket League team was tabbed No. 36 in the national poll by Colleague. The organization, made up by members of the eSports community at large, includes coaches, directors, players, production technicians, casters, analysts and professional gamers who vote periodically to rank collegiate programs based on past results and their current roster. Colleague polls traditionally rank the Top-50 teams in every game that is sponsored under the NACE and NECC championship organizations.

In addition to the Colleague Rocket League Poll, Lesley appeared No. 31 in a preseason Rocket League poll curated by TJ Stephens, a professional Rock League player and Caster for the perennially ranked Concord eSports program.

"I picked Lesley as my big sleeper for the top 32," said Stephens on his Twitch feed. "I have a lot of faith in @swazz (Carson Sward) and @collat. (Maxwell Kendall). I really, really love that duo and they've looked impressive anytime I've watched that roster."

Last spring, the Lesley Rocket Leaguers finished as runner's up in the conference tournament for both NACE and NECC, earning an at-large bid to the NECC National Tournament and advancing to the Elite 8 round.

The squad opens its 2025 Fall season tonight, September 9, against the University of North Carolina Greensboro at 7:00 PM in NACE action.