For Vivin Anand, a second-year international student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, football was never part of the plan. But then Fox Sports’ “Big Noon Kickoff” crew set the tone live from Champaign, as something great happened for Anand ahead of Illinois’ major clash against No. 1 Ohio State’s top-ranked defense. They framed Illinois as a tough underdog with a high-scoring attack, battling to upset the undefeated Buckeyes. But the real story took place just before the game when Brady Quinn and Rob Stone announced a little game that maybe completely changed Anand’s academic life.

“I’m now for a tuition giveaway,” Stone said. “One of these two students is going to walk out of here with free tuition for a year. On my right, we’ve got Vivin Anand from India. On my left, Jake Galanowicz from Wilmette, Illinois.” Now, Anand is a CS+ Physics undergrad at Illinois,  who stepped into Champaign last year in August. He and his competitor, Jake were tasked to throw as many footballs as they could through a hole in front of them. As the buzzer went on, both boys started to show off their throws, hoping for a year of free financial tuition. 

And then after 5 failed tries, Anand finally was successful in hooping the ball right through that hole. The clock stopped, and the score remained 1-0 with Anand snagging the free tuition prize with that one golden throw. Quinn didn’t forget to celebrate Anand with a joyful, “Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Then Stone did the honors with the prize, saying, “You can cash that at any local bank. They’ll take it. Trust me. Congratulations.” For Anand, it’s certainly a windfall as tuition and expenses for international students  range from $58,616 – $68,966 per year for undergraduates versus $57,622 – $65,722 for out of state students and $36,930 – $42,310 for Illinois residents.

And if you’re looking to cover everything for a full year, including books, supplies, and other personal expenses, the total budget to keep in mind could be as high as $68,966. This season, Fox partnered with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and local businesses to offer epic prizes.

But that’s just the start. Fox is also giving away a two-year lease on a brand-new 2026 GMC Terrain, free food for a year from Chick-fil-A, Papa John’s, Jimmy John’s, and $1,000 in Portillo’s gift cards. Add to that game tickets, hats, and more prizes.

Now it’s all about giving back to the fans in a big, memorable way, even beyond the football.​

The Gameday crew did it first

When it comes to giving back, even the ESPN College GameDay crew doesn’t hold back. Last weekend had everyone buzzing over Pat McAfee’s antics that actually helped a local Alabama student. McAfee runs the GameDay kicking contest, an event that has already handed out a staggering $2,850,000 this season. From which, $1.25 million went to charities, and $1.4 million landed straight into the hands of contestants.

One standout moment came when Gabby, a chemical engineering senior at Alabama, stepped up. She was promised $500,000 for a kick despite having zero kicking experience. The crowd fell silent as her attempt barely traveled 10 yards. But McAfee didn’t let her walk away empty-handed.

Gabby got a second shot with no kicking required. McAfee then shifted the job to his colleague, Kirk Herbstreit. Now, Herbstreit is the former Ohio State quarterback turned ESPN analyst. So he knows a thing or two about throwing. That’s when he flawlessly threw the football through the uprights for Gabby to win a cool $300,000.

Gabby broke into tears. She started hugging both McAfee and Herbstreit for their support, as $300,000 is hardly chump change. This generosity isn’t just a one-off. Herbstreit reportedly has personally donated over $500,000 and often writes surprise checks to contestants. These college football moments resonate with fans and participants alike. These acts of giving have helped cement the game as more than just a sport.