Elizabeth City, N.C. — Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) topped seven North Carolina universities to win the 2025 Cyber Bowl, a cybersecurity awareness competition launched by NC State University for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Oct. 1-31.
The Cyber Bowl, organized by NC State University’s Cybersecurity Awareness Team in partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University, challenged participating campuses to boost cybersecurity knowledge through a short online quiz. Each completed quiz earned a point for the participant’s university, and the institution with the highest percentage claimed the title.
Now in its second year, the Cyber Bowl expanded in 2025 to include ECSU, UNC Wilmington, North Carolina A&T, East Carolina University and Winston-Salem State University alongside NC State, Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill.
A key factor in ECSU’s victory was a hands-on, campus-centered approach. University representatives set up a table in the student café, making it easy for students to stop, log in and complete the quiz on the spot. The “boots-on-the-ground” effort translated into a steady stream of participation points, helping propel ECSU ahead of its competitors.
Participants accessed the Cyber Bowl by visiting go.ncsu.edu/cyberbowl, logging in with their university credentials and completing a brief quiz covering topics such as phishing scams, password protection and safe online practices. Students were also encouraged to spread the word and invite classmates, friends and colleagues to participate.
The competition aims to make cybersecurity education accessible, engaging and relevant by turning learning into a friendly rivalry. Organizers emphasize that cybersecurity, like the Cyber Bowl itself, is a team effort—one that depends on individual awareness and collective responsibility.
“Our goal was never just to win a competition,” said Jamar Jones, chief information officer. “It was about helping students understand how everyday decisions online affect their safety and the security of our university, and this win tells me that message resonated.”
This year’s Cyber Bowl attracted thousands of participants statewide, reflecting growing interest in cybersecurity education across North Carolina’s university campuses. With its first-place finish, ECSU demonstrated how community engagement and strategic outreach can turn awareness into action, and learning into a win.
For detailed standings and more on the competition, visit the official scoreboard at the Cyber Bowl website.