The new NACL teams, from Disguised to EG

The North American Challengers League is undergoing its most significant transformation ever, with Riot Games’ decision to remove mandatory participation requirements for LCS organizations. This policy shift has completely reshaped the competitive landscape, creating opportunities for fresh talent and innovative organizational models to enter the scene.

Following Riot’s announcement that LCS franchises no longer need to maintain NACL rosters, a dramatic exodus occurred with only three established organizations choosing to continue their developmental team investments. This vacuum has been filled by seven exciting new entrants, including a team backed by prominent content creator Disguised Toast, signaling a potential new direction for esports sustainability.

Despite the relaxed requirements, three LCS organizations have reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing North American talent through continued NACL participation. Evil Geniuses, Team Liquid Honda, and FlyQuest will maintain their academy rosters, demonstrating their long-term investment in regional player development pipelines.

These established franchises bring valuable infrastructure, coaching expertise, and systematic approach to talent cultivation that will benefit the entire ecosystem. Their continued presence provides stability during this transitional period while new organizations establish themselves.

Complete New Team Roster Breakdown

The seven new organizations represent diverse backgrounds and approaches to competitive gaming. From established collegiate programs to content creator-funded ventures, each brings unique strengths to the NACL ecosystem:

• AOE Gold – Emerging organization with focus on raw talent development
• Cincinnati Fear – Regional team expanding into national competition
• Disguised – Content creator Jeremy “Disguised Toast” Wang’s esports venture
• Maryville University – Premier collegiate esports program making professional leap
• Supernova – New organization with ambitious competitive goals
• Team Fish Taco – Community-focused team with grassroots origins
• Wildcard – Organization emphasizing underdog narratives and player potential

The upcoming NACL season features a streamlined six-week regular season format designed to identify the most promising teams efficiently. This condensed schedule increases competitive intensity while reducing organizational overhead for new entrants.

Following the regular season, top teams advance to a double-elimination playoff bracket culminating in LAN Finals at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles. This venue sharing with the LCS provides aspirational players tangible exposure to the professional environment they hope to eventually join.

Maryville University brings established collegiate excellence to the professional stage, having consistently dominated university-level competition. Their structured approach to player development and academic integration offers a unique model for balancing education and esports careers.

Disguised represents Jeremy “Disguised Toast” Wang’s ambitious entry into professional League of Legends. The organization has quickly gained recognition across multiple esports titles, partnering with Moist Cr1TiKaL’s MOST Esports in pioneering content creator-led financial sustainability models.

This marks League of Legends’ first significant exposure to content creator-owned organizations, with many industry observers watching closely to see if this approach can provide a viable alternative to traditional venture capital-backed teams. The success or failure of these models could influence future investment approaches across the entire esports landscape.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » The new NACL teams, from Disguised to EG Complete guide to the new NACL teams, tournament format, and what this means for North American esports