Queso Bowl 2026
An FTC Off-Season Robotics Competition
Join us for a fun-filled day of Decode matches, side quest challenges, raffles, and a cookie contest!
🆓 This event is open to the public.
👉 QUESO BOWL IS FULL! Registration and the wait list are now closed.👈
Saturday – May 9, 2026
Northside Church of Christ
19818 US-281, San Antonio, TX 78258
Schedule of Events
Teams arrive: 8:00 a.m.
Matches begin: 9:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Matches resume: 12:15 p.m.
Alliance selection: 2:30 p.m.
Playoffs / Awards 3:00 p.m.
Cleanup and load out: 5:00 p.m.
What is Queso Bowl?
Get ready for The Queso Bowl! This off-season FTC event invites teams of all levels to decode the season with robotics, games, and a dash of delightful whimsy.
🤖 24 team, single-division FIRST Tech Challenge event with playoffs!
Who can register?
🥳 Open to ALL teams who want to have a good time! Entry is limited to the first 24 teams. A waitlist will be created for any additional registrations.
What is different about this event?
🤩 Modified game play with an expanded field which levels the playing field for all teams!
Game changes will be announced soon after registration, because we want to customize the game to the strengths of the registered teams.
🎮 3-team alliances in the playoffs which are chosen in a snake draft!
🔮 30-second Side Quest Challenge, open to all attendees.
🍪 Decode the Dough Cookie Contest! Teams may bring 3 dozen cookies for their chance to win prizes! (Teams may bring three submissions for the cookie contest.)
What prizes will be awarded?
🏆 Each winning team will receive a custom made trophy!
The winning alliance will be awarded $250 each:
$250 1st Place Alliance Captain
$250 1st Place Alliance 1st Pick
$250 1st Place Alliance 2nd Pick
The second place alliance will be awarded $100 each:
$100 2nd Place Alliance Captain
$100 2nd Place Alliance 1st Pick
$100 2nd Place Alliance 2nd Pick
$100 Team Spirit Award: This will be awarded to a team who exhibits enthusiasm and excitement. This team’s enthusiasm is often contagious and helps create a positive atmosphere at the Queso Bowl. This can be done in a variety of ways and is up to the interpretation of each team. Judges will be walking around and observing. The winning team must show gracious professionalism at all times to win this award.
$100 Best Table Manners: This will be awarded to a team that demonstrates kindness, courtesy, respect, collaboration, and good sportsmanship towards other teams, volunteers, and judges throughout the entire event, both on and off the field. This team embodies a positive spirit and helps others throughout the event.
$100 Best Cookie 1st Place, $75 Best Cookie 2nd Place, $50 Best Cookie 3rd Place: A judging panel will taste each cookie submission and select the winners based on their scores.
Where is The Queso Bowl located?
The Queso Bowl is happening in North Central San Antonio, TX!
Address: 19818 US-281, San Antonio, TX 78258
Game Changes & Side Quest
Side Quest Challenge
Team members may participate in a side quest challenge to score as many artifacts through a basketball hoop as they can in 30 seconds. There will be two pop-a-shot style basketball hoops where two people at a time can participate.
A team member only gets one chance to participate, but teams may submit as many students as they want.
During playoffs the people with the top 8 scores will be put into a single-elimination bracket. This will result in a 1st and 2nd place for the side quest challenge.
This side quest will take place between matches next to the arena.
Queso Bowl 2026 Rule Changes
Please reference the Decode competition manual for the standard 2025-2026 season rules.
Field Changes
Field Size: Queso Bowl 2026 will be played on a 12×16 ft field instead of the regular 12×12 ft field. Two rows of foam tiles have been added to the audience side of the field.
Spike Marks: Two additional rows of spike marks have been added. The green artifacts in the added spike marks reverse the pattern of the top spike marks – green in center, green outside.
Additional Goals: Two additional goals have been added. These goals will not have ramps.
Launch Zones: The audience side launch zone has been extended to the two additional rows of tiles.
Loading Zone: The human player loading zone is expanded by one tile to now be 24” x 48”. The loading zone artifacts have been moved to the additional spike marks.
Golden Artifact: Each alliance will start with one golden artifact in their human player box.
Starting Configuration: Robots can start the match in the same locations defined in the competition manual. They must be 1) over a launch line, and 2) touching either the goal or the field perimeter.
An additional starting configuration is allowed in Queso Bowl. Robots may start in the two field tiles at the top of the launch zone that used to be next to the field perimeter. These robots can start over a launch line and do not need to touch a goal or field perimeter.
Link to CAD of field in OnShape: https://tinyurl.com/quesobowl2026
Scoring Changes
Scoring in the corner goals will be the same as the Decode competition manual.
Golden Artifact: If this artifact is in the alliance ramp at the end of the match that alliance receives full base points (30).
Additional Goals: All artifacts scored in the additional goals will count as classified and there is no overflow for these goals. These goals do not have a Depot scoring area.
End Game
During the 20 second end game period human players can yeet or throw artifacts into either of their alliance goals. Artifacts will be scored with normal game rules as classified or overflow.
Elimination Matches
Alliance selection will take place after all teams complete 5 qualification matches. Alliances for elimination matches will each have 3 teams. All 3 teams will be on the field at the same time, with 6 robots on the field.
Alliance selection will be done as a snake draft. 1st place gets first pick, all the way through 6th place alliance, then for the second pick on an alliance we will work our way backwards, where the 6th alliance will get the first pick, all the way back to the first alliance.
Starting positions for robots in a 3 team alliance will still start in a non scoring position.
Why is Microchips & Queso hosting this event?
In spring 2024, we hosted a successful garage scrimmage with six participating teams. The enthusiasm was contagious, inspiring us to expand the event to a larger venue and invite more teams. Fortunately, Mr. Rusty Baskin, NERD League Commissioner and coach of two teams, attended our scrimmage and generously offered his expertise to help us grow. Mr. Baskin is now coordinating all robot play and game changes, and we are immensely grateful for his support.
The Queso Bowl also helps extends the season with a celebration competition at the end of the school year!
What does the Queso Bowl look like?
Here is a livestream from the 2025 Queso Bowl.
When does registration open?
🚨 Registration is now closed!
Registration cost: $40 per team. This fee helps us offset the costs associated with securing the event facility, providing lunch for our essential volunteers, and ensures a dedicated level of participation from all teams!
** Queso Bowl is now full. Registration is now closed. **
👏 We need volunteers! Any skill level is welcome!
