Image credit: Call of Duty League
The 2025 season marked the fifth iteration of the Call of Duty League (CDL), Activision’s geo-located franchise structure. Utilizing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, this year was not merely competitive; it was record-breaking, smashing previous viewership milestones across the franchised era.
The season was characterized by extremes: the return of online qualifiers injected volatility, leading to multiple upsets as underdogs challenged established powerhouses. While certain rosters quickly asserted dominance, one iconic franchise found itself adrift, proving that historical prestige offers little buffer against competitive turbulence.
From the relentless efficiency of the frontrunners to an almost unbelievable tale of redemption, the CDL 2025 campaign laid a high-octane foundation for the transition into Black Ops 7.
Atlanta FaZe: Early, Calculated Dominance
Image credit: Call of Duty League
Fresh off their 2024 Esports World Cup victory on Modern Warfare 3, Atlanta FaZe experienced a brief, jarring stumble during the Major 1 online qualifiers, suffering back-to-back losses to Toronto Ultra and the Los Angeles Thieves.
However, that brief dip was quickly corrected. FaZe steamrolled through the online Minor, securing an upper bracket spot for the first LAN of Black Ops 6, held in Madrid. Entering as the sixth seed, FaZe made quick work of Boston Breach and Toronto Ultra. Their Upper Bracket Final clash against the Los Angeles Thieves pushed the limits, resulting in a dramatic 3-2 victory that booked their Grand Final slot.
The Grand Final rematch against the Thieves became an instant classic. In one of the tightest best-of-seven series in CDL history, FaZe claimed a nail-biting 4-3 victory, sealed by a 6-5 win on Skyline Search and Destroy. This resilience established FaZe`s blueprint for the year.
FaZe carried this momentum directly into Major 2, securing the second seed. The team showed relentless form, sweeping Minnesota Rokkr and Cloud9 New York. While Vancouver Surge briefly challenged them in the Upper Final (a 3-2 series), FaZe’s experience prevailed. The Grand Final rematch proved anticlimactic for the audience but clinically efficient for FaZe, resulting in a dominant 4-0 sweep to claim their second Major title of 2025. FaZe was the benchmark.
The Los Angeles Thieves: Mid-Season Ascendancy
Image credit: X/Spribs_
Having nearly dethroned FaZe at Major 1 and securing a Top 4 finish at Major 2, the stage was set for the Los Angeles Thieves (LAT) to take control of the season`s second half. They topped the Major 3 qualifiers with a commanding 4-1 record, securing the top seed for the Boca Raton LAN.
LAT proved untouchable in the opening rounds, sweeping the Carolina Royal Ravens and Miami Heretics 3-0. A fierce 3-2 Upper Final against Vancouver Surge sent the Thieves to their second Grand Final appearance. Unlike Major 1, this time they left no room for error, delivering a clinical 4-0 sweep against Surge to secure their first Major title of Black Ops 6.
Their momentum didn`t stall. LAT continued strong into Major 4 qualifiers, once again starting the final regular-season LAN in the upper bracket. They quickly swept Vancouver Surge again but found themselves in unfamiliar territory—the lower bracket—after a 3-2 loss to Miami Heretics.
Facing a resurging OpTic Texas squad, LAT held firm with a 3-1 win, then exacted revenge on Miami Heretics (3-0). This led to the highly anticipated Major 4 Grand Final against Atlanta FaZe. LAT emerged victorious with a 4-2 win, tying FaZe for the most Major wins of the season.
Despite their undeniable form and shared lead in Major titles, the Los Angeles Thieves campaign ended with a perplexing thud at the CDL Championship, where consecutive defeats to Boston Breach and Vancouver Surge relegated them to a shocking Top 12 finish. An otherwise solid campaign concluded with an unfortunate premature exit.
OpTic Texas: Redemption from the Brink
Image credit: Call of Duty League
The narrative of the 2025 season truly belongs to OpTic Texas. Entering the year as the defending CDL Champions, the Green Wall looked strong online in Major 1 qualifiers (6 wins, 1 loss) but failed to translate that success to the LAN stage, finishing with a surprising Top 8 placement.
The aftermath was brutal. A series of immediate roster changes began: Amer ‘Pred’ Zulbeari replaced Cuyler ‘Huke’ Garland, initiating a period of debilitating instability. This new lineup ended the Major 2 qualifiers in the tenth seed with a horrifying 1-6 record, punctuated by an embarrassing 18 consecutive map losses. The defending champions were in free fall.
Further desperation led to more changes. Kenny ‘Kenny’ Williams departed, and Cesar ‘Skyz’ Bueno stepped in. This iteration managed another Top 8 at Major 2. The risk of missing Champs—an unthinkable fate for the storied organization—loomed large.
After Major 2, the lineup was shuffled yet again (Pred out, Huke back in), offering minimal improvement. OpTic was consistently mediocre, racking up a third consecutive Top 8 finish at Major 3.
The irony was sharp: the defending champions, famous for their dominance, had become the league`s most turbulent experiment.
The turning point arrived during Major 3 with the emergence of rookie substitute, Mason ‘Mercules’ Ramsey, whose standout performance for Toronto Ultra captured the attention of every struggling franchise. On May 6th, OpTic Texas acquired Mercules to replace Skyz. The impact was immediate and transformative. OpTic secured the third seed for Major 4 qualifiers and achieved a Top 4 finish—a noticeable step forward.
The Championship Miracle
Despite entering the season-ending CDL Championship as the 7th seed, the final iteration of OpTic Texas was reportedly dominating scrims. This newfound confidence was not hype; it was reality. The Green Wall systematically dismantled the competition, sweeping aside Atlanta FaZe, Toronto Ultra, and Boston Breach with a chilling efficiency that was nonexistent earlier in the year. They booked their place in their first Grand Final of Black Ops 6.
Vancouver Surge, having been runners-up twice, attempted to stage an upset, but they were facing a completely different OpTic Texas. The resurgent champions won the series 5-3, successfully defending their CDL title against every conceivable odd. Rising from an 0-18 losing streak to hoisting the CDL Championship trophy is a story line unlikely to be repeated.
The synergy provided by Mercules, pairing perfectly with Anthony ‘Shotzzy’ Cuevas-Castro, unlocked the team`s superior slaying ability, providing the anchor needed to steady the ship.
OpTic Texas concluded their miraculous year by attending the Esports World Cup under the OpTic Gaming banner. They swept Group A and faced Vancouver Surge once more in the Grand Final, delivering a dominant 4-0 sweep to close out Black Ops 6 on the highest possible note.
The Call of Duty League Moves Into Black Ops 7
The off-season was notable for significant restructuring, including several rebrandings and relocations. The 2025/26 season is now the first not to feature any of the 12 franchises that began the league in 2020—a sign of the league’s evolution and consolidation.
Treyarch’s latest title, Black Ops 7, introduced key changes, including adjustments to movement mechanics and the replacement of Control with the new competitive game mode, Overload.
Two weeks into the online qualifiers for the first Major of 2026, the reigning champions, OpTic Texas, remain unbeaten with three victories. Paris Gentle Mates leads a tight midfield battle.
With the competition closer than ever, and a solid competitive title guiding the way, the sixth Call of Duty League season is perfectly poised to be one of the most competitive in history, promising to push Call of Duty esports to new heights and potentially break even more records.
