The University of Utah has revealed plans to start a varsity eSports program that will offer scholarships to top gamers. The team will be managed by the university's Entertainment Arts & Engineering video game development program, which has been the #1 ranked video game development program in the country for three out of the last five years.
The eSports team will focus its efforts into breaking into the professional League of Legends scene before venturing into other games.
The university-backed eSports team will be the first of its kind from any of the Power Five athletics conferences (Pac-12, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and SEC) although there are several universities in smaller NCAA conferences that have already created teams.
A.J. Dimick, director of operations for the new eSports team believes that the other schools will soon follow suit.
The announcement has created a ton of buzz within the gaming community, a development that the University was likely hoping for. However, it's also raised a ton of questions such as what happens to any prize money won during tournaments (college athletes are not allowed to receive monetary compensation from their sport).
The program currently offers partial-scholarships but aims to eventually provide 30 full scholarships for students and coaches.