Four Schools. One $1M Grand Prize. T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights Enters the Final Round!

Each Division Champion takes home $250,000, a Gronk Fitness gym upgrade and a $5,000 student leadership award as nationwide voting kicks off to crown the ultimate champion

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) today announced the four Division Champions in its Friday Night 5G Lights competition, setting the stage for the final round of voting as the schools go head-to-head for the ultimate prize: a $1 million football-field upgrade. After more than 2.3 million votes poured in from communities across the country, four schools emerged as Division Champions, each with a unique story and vision for what winning could mean for its students, athletes and community. These schools have already secured $25,000 as Division Finalists and are now one step closer to taking home the competition’s grand prize.

• East: Buffalo Gap High School (Swoope, Va.) — As a first-year contest participant, Buffalo Gap High School has already earned a 2026 $5K Fridays win through the competition — proof of how hard this rural Augusta County community rallies for its Bison. As the county’s smallest high school and one of only two without a field house, Buffalo Gap leans on volunteers, coaches and families to keep game nights going, from concessions, event management to field maintenance. A win would help bring much-needed upgrades to the field, scoreboard, sound system and team spaces, so Bison athletes can keep showing up with the grit that defines them.
• Midwest: Menasha High School (Menasha, Wis.) — Following the devastating tornado that destroyed Calder Stadium this past July, the Menasha Bluejays are fighting to bring Friday night lights back to a community that needs them now more than ever. Rebuilding their field isn't just about football, it's about restoring a sense of normalcy and home. A win would give students, families, alumni and neighbors a place to gather, heal and stand together again. Calder Stadium will prove that no matter what hits it, Menasha rebuilds as one.
• South: Covington High School (Covington, La.) — The Covington Lions earned a 2026 $5K Friday Fridays win, bringing a boost to one of St. Tammany Parish's largest athletic programs. The funding will support facility and equipment upgrades that benefit more than 450 student-athletes, helping modernize training spaces and create new opportunities for athletes to grow, compete and succeed. Backed by strong community support throughout the competition, the Lions proved that Covington rallies behind its students both on and off the field.
• West: Lakeside High School (Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) — As a three-time Friday Night 5G Lights applicant and three-time $5K Fridays winner, the Lakeside Eagles are rallying a proud Nine Mile Falls community where athletics have helped shape generations and delivered more than 31 state titles since the school opened in 1991. The grand prize would help improve worn field conditions, insufficient lighting, limited seating, accessibility and an outdated weight room — giving a tight-knit community the facilities to match its tradition, pride and 6 a.m. pursuit of excellence.

As Division Champions, each school receives $250,000, a Gronk Fitness gym upgrade and “The Big Deal” Student Leadership Award, valued at $5,000, recognizing a student who consistently shows up for others and makes a lasting, positive impact on their school and community.

The Road to Victory

The competition is heating up! The votes have reset, and fans can again vote once per day from Oct. 29 through Nov. 8 at FridayNight5GLights.com using a valid mobile phone number. Every vote counts as the four schools compete for the $1 million grand prize and an epic tailgate celebration. Out of nearly 2,500 schools, 40 were selected as Division Finalists, competing against other schools within their division for the championship. The 2026 Friday Night 5G Lights winner will be crowned on Nov. 12.

Beyond the Final Four: Celebrating More Schools

The excitement doesn't stop with the four Division Champions. T-Mobile is also recognizing six standout schools with $5,000 Spirit Spotlight Awards for going above and beyond to rally communities and bring Friday nights to life through creative videos, social media and incredible school spirit.

This year’s Spirit Spotlight Award winners are:

• Magenta Energy Award: Hooks High School (Hooks, Texas)
• Spirit Champion Award: South Beauregard High School (Longville, La.)
• Best Use of Technology: Bureau Valley High School (Manlius, Ill.)
• Most Community Spirit: Maud High School (Maud, Texas)
• Hometown Heart Award: South Kitsap High School (Port Orchard, Wash.)
• Creative Spirit Award: Windham High School (Windham, N.H.)

One Division Finalist will also receive the T-Mobile Employee Fan Favorite Award, a $25,000 cash prize awarded to the school with the most T-Mobile employee fan support.

Now in its third year, T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights continues to celebrate the schools and communities that make Friday nights special. From recognizing school spirit and hometown pride to helping schools make meaningful improvements to their athletic programs, the competition is about more than football. Over the past three years, T-Mobile has awarded more than $15 million through Friday Night 5G Lights, helping schools and communities across the country turn their big dreams into reality.

About T-Mobile

As the supercharged Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is powered by an award-winning nationwide 5G Advanced network that connects more people, in more places, than ever before. With T-Mobile’s unique value proposition of best network, best value and best experiences, the Un-carrier is redefining connectivity and fueling competition while continuing to drive the next wave of innovation in wireless, broadband and beyond. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information, visit https://www.t-mobile.com.

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