Inola High School's new weight room after winning Friday Night Lights competition

T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest brings major athletic improvements—and now it’s your school’s turn to apply.

Thursday, July 10th 2025, 6:48 am

By: Hannah Sedgwick

INOLA, Okla. -

Inola High School is celebrating a major victory off the field. After winning T-Mobile’s national Friday Night 5G Lights competition, the school opened the doors to a brand-new weight room, one piece of a multi-million dollar prize package awarded for outstanding school spirit and community support.

Student-led campaign brings national spotlight

The win followed a student-led social media campaign that helped rally national support and propel the small-town Oklahoma school to the top of a competition that featured nearly 1,800 high schools from all 50 states.

Their reward: a sweeping set of upgrades aimed at boosting school pride and athletic performance.

The prize package includes:

A $100,000 grant
A high-tech scoreboard
Enhanced 5G network coverage on campus
A high-energy tailgate experience for fans this fall

Coach calls new facility ‘a game-changer’

Inola officially opened its modernized weight room on July 8, a facility designed to meet the training needs of athletes across all sports.

“This weight room is a game-changer for our athletes,” said Coach Jerry Jones, who leads Inola’s strength and conditioning program. “It’s not just about lifting weights—it’s about building discipline, confidence, and a stronger school culture.”

The weight room features state-of-the-art equipment and is expected to have a lasting impact on student health, performance, and morale.

New Inola Weight Room

Football field upgrades begin soon

Next up: construction on Inola’s newly upgraded football field is scheduled to begin in mid-July, following weather-related delays earlier this summer. The school is targeting completion the week of August 11—just in time for the kickoff of the 2025 football season.

Want Your School to Win Next?

T-Mobile is bringing back its Friday Night 5G Lights program for 2025—and it’s even bigger. The pre-registration period is now open and runs through July 16. Schools that sign up early will get a sneak peek at the prizes and a reminder when applications open.

This year’s competition will award more prizes to more schools, with weekly $5,000 sweepstakes and special perks for schools that apply early. The application window runs from July 17 through September 12.

To be eligible, your school must:

Be in a town with a population of 150,000 or less
Have official Instagram or X (Twitter) accounts for posting
Submit a written testimonial, photos, and contact information as part of the application

T-Mobile encourages early entries—schools that apply in the first week will receive “something special,” according to the company.

How to Apply

Interested schools can visit FridayNight5GLights.com to read the full rules, get pre-registered, and prepare for the official launch on July 17. Additional questions can be directed to TMobile@FridayNight5GLights.com.