This page contains an archive of previously-sent team logistics emails for the 2025 PACE NSC.
March 31: Logistics Email #1
April 17: Travel Update / REAL ID Requirements
May 5: Logistics Email #2
Logistics Email #1
1. Room Reservations – Hyatt Regency O’Hare
PACE has secured a discounted rate of $180 per night plus tax for double-occupancy rooms at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, where the entirety of this year’s NSC will take place. You can book directly through Hyatt’s website here or by calling 847-696-1234 and using group code G-MBR0.
All registered teams should reserve their rooms promptly, as our group rate expires at 12pm Central time on May 15. Teams reserving their hotel rooms after that may not be able to receive the discounted rate.
2. Registration and Payment Status
Teams are considered registered upon completion of the registration form and payment of the $100 deposit. The current field of both registered teams and pending registrations can be found here. As the field is expected to fill in April, please ensure that your deposit has been paid to secure your spot in the field.
Complete payment for all teams is due no later than May 10 in order to avoid late penalties. Any team who has not paid in full by May 21 may be dropped from the field at PACE’s discretion. If you have any questions about payments, please email treasurer@pace-nsc.org.
3. NSC Weekend Schedule
A preliminary schedule for the NSC weekend can be found at this page. A finalized schedule will be posted as we get closer to the tournament, and any modifications to the schedule during the NSC itself will be communicated both on the tournament website and via email as appropriate.
All teams are scheduled to compete through Sunday at 12:30pm, unless your team is involved in any finals (including JV and Small School finals) or tiebreakers (for 3rd-16th place), in which case matches will resume after lunch (listed on the schedule as “Finals and Awards”).
4. Eligibility and Gameplay Rules
Both the Eligibility Rules and Gameplay Rules for the 2025 NSC can be found on the PACE website at pace-nsc.org/nsc/official-ruleset. The Eligibility Rules (dated November 1, 2024) do not have any substantive changes from those used last year, while the Gameplay Rules (dated February 1, 2025) have several policy changes that teams should review, specifically Rules C9, F2, and G13.
5. What to expect next
The next big update will come in early May, and will include information about tournament format, and instructions for submitting rosters, media releases, and code of conduct agreements.
REAL ID Update
We’re looking forward to seeing you in just seven weeks! I’m writing with an update regarding REAL ID requirements for individuals who are planning on flying to Chicago for the NSC.
Beginning May 7, 2025, any state-issued identification (like driver’s licenses) must meet the REAL ID standard in order to be used at TSA security checkpoints for any form of domestic or international travel. In some states, all state-issued IDs are REAL ID compliant, while in other states, you must explicitly request a REAL ID when you are applying for (or renewing) your license/permit. You can find more about your state’s program and requirements by visiting this page and selecting your state’s website from the map provided.
If your license/permit is not REAL ID compliant, there are other forms of acceptable ID, including passports, passport cards, and Global Entry cards. Please also note that TSA currently accepts expired ID up to one year after expiration as a valid form of identification, though we strongly advise against relying exclusively on that form of identification.
For individuals under 18, the TSA does not require photo ID at screening points. Individual airlines may have their own policies; we encourage you to review the policies that apply to your team to ensure you do not face unnecessary travel delays.
As there may be some delays in scheduling appointments for new/updated IDs, please check your IDs now and make the necessary plans to avoid any problems on your planned travel dates.
Logistics Email #2
1. Field Expansion and Schedule Adjustments
This year, PACE has expanded the field cap to 84 teams due to overwhelming interest from teams to compete, making this the largest NSC field since 2019. As a result, the schedule for an 84-team tournament differs slightly from the schedule used at last year’s 72-team tournament. You can view the revised schedule here, and more details about the tournament format can be found below. In particular, please note that the David Riley Coaches Conference has been moved to Friday evening, and the Women in Quizbowl Social will be held on Saturday after the conclusion of Round 12.
2. Rooms at the Hyatt
There are still rooms at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare available at the NSC group discount rate ($180/night plus tax for double-occupancy). The Hyatt has extended their cutoff date for reservations at the discounted rate until May 21, but we recommend booking as soon as possible to ensure the hotel does not sell out. You can book directly through Hyatt’s website here or by calling 847-696-1234 and using group code G-MBR0.
3. Registration Payments
As a reminder, complete payment for all teams is due no later than May 10 in order to avoid late penalties. Any team who has not paid in full by May 21 may be dropped from the field at PACE’s discretion. If you have any questions about payments, please email Mike Bentley at treasurer@pace-nsc.org.
4. Roster Submissions
Each team (including those on the waitlist or on standby) is required to submit their roster in advance, to ensure fair and balanced seeding of the tournament field. Additionally, the name and grade of each player (along with intended college/university enrollment, for seniors who wish to include that information) will be published in the official PACE NSC Program.
Rosters should be completed only once per team and must be submitted no later than Tuesday, May 27 (this is the day after Memorial Day). If your team requires an extension to finalize the roster of attending students, you must request that extension no later than Friday, May 23. All rosters must be submitted using this form. If you have to make any changes to rosters or participant agreements, please email me directly (do not complete a second form entry).
5. Participant Agreements
Each competing student is required to submit a participant agreement, which includes the PACE NSC Code of Conduct and Media Release. These must be signed by the competing student (and a parent/guardian, if the student is under 18 as of today) and must be submitted no later than Tuesday, May 27 (this is the day after Memorial Day). Unlike at past NSCs, all Participant Agreements must be submitted in advance of the tournament using the online form here.
6. Player Accommodations
If any players from your school require any accommodations to ensure a fair playing experience, please email me directly (td@pace-nsc.org) before the Tuesday, May 27 roster deadline. More information about the accommodations policies for the PACE NSC can be found in Rule F2 of the PACE Gameplay Rules (available at pace-nsc.org/nsc/official-ruleset).
7. Tournament structure and format
The NSC will use a similar format as was used last year, though with the field expansion, there are some changes that returning teams should note.
Phase I (Preliminary Rounds 1-5): Teams will play a full round-robin in fourteen groups of six teams each. Following any necessary tiebreakers, teams will be divided evenly into three Tiers (I, II, and III) based on finish within each Preliminary group.
Phase II (Playoff Rounds 6-12): Within each Tier, teams will be split into four groups of seven teams each, playing a full round-robin with one bye round per team. Ties will be broken after Phase II only for Tier I teams.
Phase III (Superplayoff Rounds 13-18): Tier I teams who finish 1st-6th in their Playoff group will be put in groups of eight teams each, where the one common-opponent match from Playoffs carries over. These teams will play six rounds (13-18) to determine final placements from 1st to 24th place. Additional tiebreaks and advantaged finals will be played as needed in the top two Superplayoff groups (Championship and 9th-16th place).
Tier I teams who finish 7th in their Playoff group, along with all Tier II and III teams, will be put in groups of four teams each based on placement within Playoff groups. These teams will play three rounds (13-15) to determine final placements from 25th to 84th place. Any Junior Varsity and/or Small School finals are expected to take place during Rounds 17-18.
8. What to expect next
I’ll be sending a final pre-tournament email to all teams on Monday, June 2, with the finalized schedule of events, logistics for team check-in processes, and more. In the meantime, please continue to email me with any questions that may arise.