BOX: KEY DATES Sept. 186: Applications close Oct. 8-25: Public voting, with one vote per day at https://FridayNight5GLights.com Oct. 29-Nov. 8: Final-four voting Nov. 12: Grand prize winner announced …
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Four Baldwin County high schools are among the first 300 schools nationwide to win $5,000 through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition, giving the schools an early shot at a prize that could eventually reach $1 million.
Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette, Daphne High School, Elberta High School and Robertsdale High School are among 19 Alabama schools included in the first 300 winners of T-Mobile’s $5K Fridays sweepstakes.
Each school will receive $5,000 that can be used for athletic needs such as helmets, weight room equipment, uniforms or travel expenses, a news release from T-Mobile said.
The awards are the first step in a national competition that will distribute more than $8.4 million to small-town high schools. The overall winner will receive a $1 million football field upgrade.
“This program celebrates the passion, pride and sense of community that makes high school football so special,” Patrick Mahomes, three-time Super Bowl MVP, said in the release. “I am excited to recognize the players, fans and hometowns that bring that energy every Friday night.”
The four Baldwin County schools will have additional opportunities to win as the competition moves into its next stages.
This year’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition features a new divisional bracket with 40 finalists divided among the West, East, Midwest and South divisions. Ten schools from each division will be selected by a panel of judges based on community impact, need, creativity, school pride, social media participation and overall community engagement.
Public voting will take place Oct. 8-25. Anyone nationwide can vote once per day through https://FridayNight5GLights.com and the T-Life app.
Finalists also can earn potential bonus votes through social media “Spirit Week” challenges posted on the Friday Night 5G Lights website.
The four schools with the most votes will become division champions and receive $250,000, a Gronk Fitness gym valued at $90,000 and “The Big Deal” student leadership award worth $5,000.
The 40 finalists will each receive $25,000 and a T-Mobile-hosted Home Game Celebration. One finalist also will be selected as the “Fan Favorite” through a vote by T-Mobile employees and receive an additional $25,000.
Final-four voting is scheduled for Oct. 29-Nov. 8. T-Mobile will announce the grand prize winner Nov. 12.
The competition is designed to celebrate small-town high school football and the communities that support it. More than 750 schools have earned prizes through the program since it launched.
“Over the past two years, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when communities come together to support their hometown schools, and it’s been absolutely inspiring,” said Jon Freier, Chief Operating Officer, T-Mobile. “Friday Night 5G Lights has become about so much more than football — it’s about celebrating the pride, traditions and connections that make small towns special. This season, we’re going even bigger and opening the door for more schools than ever to win because every community deserves its moment in the spotlight.”
The Baldwin County schools join an Alabama group that has previously made deep runs in the competition.
Springwood High School in Lanett was named to the national Top 25 last year, while Saks High School in Anniston advanced to the Top 16 finalists in 2024.
The 2026 competition already has produced its first 300 $5,000 winners nationwide, with the Baldwin County schools among those selected.
The program has awarded two $1 million football field transformations in its first two years.
In 2024, Inola High School in Inola, Oklahoma, a town of about 1,900 people, became the inaugural champion after rallying fans nationwide.
In 2025, Dierks High School in Dierks, Arkansas, a community of about 900 people, received nearly 2 million votes with support from its community and celebrity supporters to secure a $1 million field upgrade.
Mahomes and Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski are returning to Friday Night 5G Lights this season to help rally fans behind participating schools.
Mahomes is returning for his second season with the program. He will be joined by Gronkowski, a four-time Super Bowl champion, as well as college athletes Dante Moore, Ashlea Klam, CJ Carr, Rocco Becht and Kewan Lacy.
“It’s great to be back for another season of Friday Night 5G Lights,” said Mahomes, three-time Super Bowl MVP. “This program celebrates the passion, pride and sense of community that makes high school football so special. I am excited to recognize the players, fans and hometowns that bring that energy every Friday night.”
“Every year, Friday Night 5G Lights reminds me why high school football means so much to small towns,” said Gronkowski, four-time Super Bowl champ. “The energy, the traditions and the school spirit are unlike anything else. Every season these schools raise the bar, and with more schools winning than ever before, I can’t wait to see who brings the biggest spirit this year.”
Eligible high schools can apply through Sept. 18. Schools must be located in U.S. towns with populations under 150,000, and applications must be submitted by authorized school officials such as teachers, coaches or administrators at https://FridayNight5GLights.com.
Applications must include a short story or essay explaining why the school deserves a football field transformation.
The first 1,500 schools to apply will receive a rally kit. Every eligible applicant also will automatically be entered into T-Mobile’s $5K Fridays sweepstakes.
Supporters can help their schools by participating on social media. Eligible posts on X or Instagram using #FN5GL and #Entry while tagging @TMobile and the school count as additional sweepstakes entries.
Fans also can show school spirit through a new AR Gronk selfie experience at https://FN5GL.com/AR.
T-Mobile is hosting local celebrations through Tailgate Week. Through Aug. 15, more than 500 T-Mobile stores will host hometown events where fans can gather, show school spirit and rally behind their teams.
T-Mobile members also have a chance to win a 2026 Honda Passport through T-Mobile Tuesdays. Free grill tongs will be available Aug. 11 through T-Mobile Tuesdays in the T-Life app.
The public voting period begins Oct. 8. More information is available at https://FridayNight5GLights.com.
