This is more than a contest. It’s a multimillion-dollar nationwide movement to fuel school pride, performance and possibility. Friday Night 5G Lights is a T-Mobile program that supports small towns by giving high schools a chance to showcase their spirit and compete for a game-changing football field upgrade. T-Mobile launched the program last year to celebrate the strong community bonds found in small towns—especially around high school football—by enhancing the game-day experience and helping these communities shine.

Friday Night 5G Lights is a multi-phased program designed to engage schools and communities, running from July through October. While schools ultimately compete for the million-dollar prize, there will be plenty of opportunities to win weekly $5K Friday prizes for your school and to engage your school community throughout the competition.

To apply, the playing field is wide open to high schools in U.S. towns with a population of 150,000 or less. To get in the game, have an authorized representative from your school apply and share why your town’s high school football field deserves an upgrade. The application submission period goes from July 17 - September 12, so make sure your school applies early!

T-Mobile's panel of judges will then have the tough job of picking 25 finalists based on applicant stories, school needs and community impact. The finalists will be announced in late September and from there, everyone in the country will be able to help pick the grand prize winner by voting for their favorite school at www.fridaynight5glights.com.

Visit www.t-mobile.com/brand/friday-night-5g-lights/apply to apply and www.t-mobile.com/brand/friday-night-5g-lights/rules for the official rules.

Entering is simple. Visit www.fridaynight5Glights.com and select the “Enter now” button to complete the entry form and tell us why your school is most deserving of the grand prize upgrade and how it will impact your community. Additionally, be prepared to share the following information:

• Name of High School
• School Tax ID
• School Address and Address of Football Field (if different)
• School Email Address
• School Website
• School’s official social media handles and hyperlinks (Instagram and/or X)
  • Posting on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) will be required for entry into the Friday Night 5G Lights promotion.  
• Primary & Secondary School Contact Information
• A brief 200–750-word summary explaining why your school needs a Friday Night 5G Lights homefield upgrade and the impact that the Friday Night 5G Lights upgrade will bring to your school and community.

The application will also ask for important files and documents, including:

• A current photo of your school’s football field and stadium (JPG, PNG, or PDF image up to 50mb).
• An image file of your official school logo to be used by T-Mobile in promotion of your school’s participation in the Friday Night 5G Lights promotion (Ideally in color and high resolution, and either EPS, SVG, AI, or JPGs file formats).
• A photo spotlighting an example of your “school spirit.” This can include your football team taking the field, band members and cheerleaders cheering on the team, or the crowd celebrating after a great play. Please note that this photo may be shared on www.fridaynight5Glights.com as a school spotlight to showcase your Friday Night 5G Lights journey.

You need an Instagram OR an X (formerly Twitter) account for your school to enter. If you do not already have accounts, you can easily create a free account using your email or phone number and follow the prompts to set up your profile.

A T-Mobile judging panel selects the Top 25 based on powerful storytelling, the potential impact of a tech upgrade on the school’s football field, visible school and community spirit through social engagement, and how well the school aligns with T-Mobile’s mission to empower small towns through digital connection and equitable opportunity. It’s not just about need—it’s about passion, presence, and purpose.

The winning high school will be determined by the most votes cast to each school’s unique URL. It’s up to YOU to amplify the message and drive awareness to get votes for your school!

The playing field is wide open to high schools in U.S. towns with a population of 150,000 or less. To get in the game, authorized school representatives (think administrators, principals, athletic directors, coaches, teachers, etc.) can apply on behalf of their school to get the ultimate football field tech makeover.

Yes, private high schools can apply.

Entries begin July 17, 2025, and must be received by September 12, 2025 (11:59 PM ET).

Every high school that enters Friday Night 5G Lights is automatically entered for a chance to win $5,000 in T-Mobile’s "$5K Fridays " weekly sweepstakes. Between August 1 and September 19, T-Mobile will randomly select a total of 450 schools; 100 winners will be selected in the first week, followed by 50 winners for the remaining seven weeks — to win $5,000 each. Students, parents, staff, and the whole community can boost their school’s chances of winning the sweepstakes by posting spirited photos—like pep rallies or spirit days—on Instagram or X (Twitter). Every correctly tagged post counts as an additional entry, so more posts mean more chances to score extra cash for gear, equipment, or transportation. Just tag your school’s official handle, @TMobile, and use #Sweepstakes and #FN5GL to make it count. Get full details and downloadable assets at www.fridaynight5Glights.com/5kfridays.

Finalists will be notified directly from a T-Mobile representative in late September that they are advancing to compete for the Grand Prize.

• $1,000,000 to be used towards a game-changing homefield upgrade
• A consult with a stadium experience expert
• A weight room upgrade by GronkFitness.com
• An unforgettable tailgate party unveiling in 2026
• And an all-expense-paid trip for 16 school representatives to the SEC Championship game December 6, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia

Cities with populations under 150,000 are targeted to ensure that smaller communities, which may have fewer resources and opportunities, can benefit from this contest. This helps to level the playing field and provide support where it can make a significant impact.

The money is issued directly to the school's official organization, which could be the school itself, a recognized 501c3 booster club, or the district foundation. For the grand prize winner, T-Mobile will work directly with the winning school district to deliver the prize.

5G connectivity brings the entire game-day experience to the next level. Fans enjoy real-time streaming, interactive scoreboards, and instant social sharing. Athletes and coaches gain access to performance data, play analytics, and biometric sensors that boost training and strategy. Cheerleaders and the band can perfectly coordinate routines and amplify their impact through connected tech. Even concession vendors benefit, with faster mobile payments and smoother point-of-sale systems. With 5G, the whole stadium can run smarter, faster, and more connected—creating an unforgettable night for the entire community.

To participate in Friday Night 5G Lights, a school must have or create an active, public Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) account.

Whoever is submitting the online application would need to agree to the contest rules before submitting their application, including the school’s ability to accept all elements of the prize. If pre-authorization is required by a school district's superintendent, that responsibility falls on the school and needs to take place before submitting the application.

Once you apply, start showing your school spirit right away on your high school’s official Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) by creating standout social content for Friday Night 5G Lights. Rally your classmates, teachers, parents—even the whole town—for inspiration. The more posts your community shares using #FN5GL, #Sweepstakes, tagging @TMobile, and your school, the better your school’s chances of winning!

Check out the #FN5GL Playbook for tips and resources on how to rally your community to help you win big. And tune into our informative webinar to learn more about the program and hear directly from T-Mobile for -Education, and last year’s winner, Inola High School, on what it takes to win!

Once the finalists are announced in late September, each school will get their own page on the Friday Night 5G Lights website www.fridaynight5Glights.com. Voters will be directed to visit the School’s FN5GL Page during the Voting Period, and using a personal computer or mobile device, follow the instructions provided to submit their email address, view each of the Finalist Submissions and click on the applicable “vote” button to cast a vote for the one (1) Finalist Submission they choose to vote for (each, a “Vote” and collectively, “Votes”). Check out all the details on voting on our Official Rules website.

T-Mobile is strengthening rural communities by expanding reliable connectivity and backing local initiatives like Friday Night 5G Lights. It’s about turning the promise of 5G for All into meaningful support—fueling connection, opportunity, and hometown pride without changing what makes small towns special.

Since launching that vision, T-Mobile has:

• Expanded 5G coverage by nearly 500,000 square miles, now reaching over 2 million square miles nationwide
• Upgraded or built nearly 40,000 towers in rural areas
• Brought real broadband competition through fast, affordable 5G Home and Business Internet
• Boosted download speeds 4.2x across rural America
• Opened nearly 600 retail stores in small towns
• Invested $16 million through Hometown Grants to support 375 towns and small businesses
• Connected nearly 6 million students through Project 10Million
• Pushed boundaries with T-Satellite—keeping customers connected even where no other network reaches
• T-Mobile isn’t just bringing better wireless to rural America—it’s building stronger, more connected communities.