Key Takeaways
- Dierks High School secured nearly 2 million votes to win T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition, earning a $1 million stadium upgrade for a town of approximately 900 residents.
- More than 8 million total votes were cast for the Top 25 finalists, with over 2,100 schools entering the second-year competition.
- The Top 25 finalist schools collectively received over $1 million in funding, with Lebanon High School (Oregon) earning $100,000 as runner-up and Dexter Regional High School (Maine) receiving $50,000 for third place.
- Dierks’ stadium has gone without upgrades for more than 20 years, with the prize package including a Gronk Fitness weight room renovation and stadium experience consultation.
- T-Mobile added a new award this year, the Magenta Fan Favorite, which Harrisonville High School (Missouri) won for an additional $25,000.
Small-Town Mobilization Delivers Outsized Results
Dierks High School, home of the Outlaws in rural Arkansas, claimed the top prize in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition on October 30, 2025. The school will receive a stadium transformation valued at $1 million, marking the first significant upgrade to the facility in over two decades.
The competition, now in its second year, saw participation from more than 2,100 schools nationwide. Dierks follows Inola, Oklahoma as the program’s champion, continuing a pattern of small communities outperforming larger markets in the voting-based contest.
According to T-Mobile, Dierks supporters cast their votes an average of five times each. The campaign gained traction through student-led social media efforts, including videos from pep rallies, home game celebrations, and challenge participation. Elementary students, including kindergartners, contributed content that expanded the school’s reach beyond its immediate community.
Prize Package Details and Timeline
The $1 million prize includes multiple components designed to modernize Dierks’ athletic facilities. Beyond the stadium transformation, the school will receive a weight room renovation through Gronk Fitness, consultation with stadium experience specialists, and a tailgate party in 2026 to reveal the finalized upgrades.
Additionally, 16 school representatives will attend the SEC Championship Game on December 6, 2025, with all expenses covered by T-Mobile.
“I think what makes this win so special is how seen our community feels,” said Paul Ernest, Head Football Coach at Dierks High School. “In a small town, kids sometimes hear it’s time to give up those big dreams. But this win from T-Mobile tells them the opposite.”
The stadium upgrade addresses a clear infrastructure gap. T-Mobile’s announcement noted that the Outlaws’ stadium has operated without significant improvements for more than 20 years.
Competition Results Across All Finalists
The race for first place came down to two schools. Lebanon High School in Oregon finished as runner-up with nearly 1.5 million votes, receiving $100,000 for its efforts. Between Dierks and Lebanon alone, voters cast 3.4 million ballots.
Dexter Regional High School in Maine secured third place and a $50,000 prize. The school’s campaign included community-wide participation and earned recognition from actor Patrick Dempsey.
T-Mobile introduced a new category this year: the Magenta Fan Favorite award. Harrisonville High School in Missouri won the inaugural honor, selected by T-Mobile employees for creativity and community pride. The award added $25,000 to Harrisonville’s existing $25,000 finalist prize, bringing their total to $50,000.
Across all 25 finalist schools, T-Mobile distributed over $1 million in combined funding.
Celebrity and Political Endorsements Amplified Reach
Dierks’ campaign attracted attention from public figures across sports, entertainment, and government. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin publicly supported the effort. Former NFL running back Darren McFadden, comedians Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy, NASCAR driver Austin Dillon, and former University of Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones also endorsed the campaign.
Patrick Mahomes, three-time Super Bowl MVP and official Friday Night 5G Lights ambassador, acknowledged the win in T-Mobile’s announcement. Rob Gronkowski, four-time Super Bowl champion and fellow ambassador, also commented on the outcome.
“The Outlaws brought their A-game and hustled their way to the top with their unbelievable determination and passion these past few weeks,” Gronkowski said. “They showed up big time and now they’ll have the stadium they deserve.”
The endorsements helped extend the campaign’s visibility beyond Arkansas, contributing to the nearly 2 million vote total.
T-Mobile’s Broader Rural Connectivity Initiatives
Friday Night 5G Lights operates within T-Mobile’s larger strategy to expand services in rural markets. Since 2021, the company has increased 5G coverage by more than 500,000 square miles and opened over 600 new stores in rural areas.
The company also runs Hometown Grants and Project 10Million, programs focused on expanding access and opportunity in underserved communities. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, T-Mobile Business Internet, T-Mobile Fiber, and T-Satellite with Starlink provide connectivity options for rural residents and businesses.
Jon Freier, President of T-Mobile Consumer Group, framed the competition as an extension of these efforts. “We built America’s Best Network to reach communities like Dierks, and they proved what next-level connection looks like when everyone comes together for something bigger,” Freier said.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Registration Now Open
Schools interested in the 2026 competition can already register for updates at FridayNight5GLights.com. The program’s growth from year one to year two, measured by school participation and total votes cast, suggests continued expansion.
For youth sports operators and facility managers, the competition represents a potential funding avenue for infrastructure improvements. The application and voting structure rewards community engagement and social media activity, making it accessible to schools regardless of enrollment size or existing resources.
Dierks’ win demonstrates that concentrated local support can compete with, and exceed, larger population centers in engagement-based contests.
via: T-Mobile
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