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2025 Tuition Scholarship Giveaway - Throwing Challenge Official Rules

2025 Tuition Scholarship Giveaway - Throwing Challenge Official Rules

Tuition Scholarship Giveaway – Throwing Challenge

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN A PRIZE.

A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

1. THE CONTEST: The Throwing Challenge will award randomly selected, eligible students in the “Pit” at the Fox Big Noon Kickoff (“BNK”) show at Grange Grove for the Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini football game on October 11, 2025, the opportunity to participate in a throwing competition. The winner of the competition will receive a credit for a one-year tuition scholarship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign an in-state, base tuition rate of $13,000.  

2. HOW TO ENTER: Eligible students present in the Pit prior to the start of the BNK show will be randomly selected through a t-shirt toss with numbered shirts, or “sherseys”. Entrance to the Pit is on a first-come, first-served basis. Space may be limited. Students admitted to the Pit are encouraged to wear school colors. Entrance to the Pit is subject to all applicable security procedures and policies. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible participants present and selected to compete. All participants entering the Pit, including those involved in the selection process, must comply with university conduct policies and event safety protocols. Sponsor reserves the right to remove or disqualify any individual for behavior deemed unsafe, disruptive, or in violation of applicable laws or university policies. Participants must follow all instructions provided by Sponsor staff and event personnel. Any conduct that poses a risk to others or interferes with the fair administration of the Contest may result in immediate removal and disqualification at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

3. ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open to all legal residents of the United States ages 18 years and over as of the date of entry, who are current undergraduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in good academic standing and eligible to receive financial aid, and present in the Pit during the BNK show (each a “participant”). The following are not eligible for the Contest: (i) current collegiate athletes at the Sponsor; (ii) employees and agents of the Sponsor’s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics; and (iii) the "immediate family members" and/or "household members" of any of the persons set forth in (ii) above. "Immediate family members" shall mean parents, step-parents, children, step-children, siblings or spouses. "Household members" shall mean people who share the same residence at least three (3) months a year. Void in all U.S. Territories (e.g., Puerto Rico and Guam) and wherever prohibited by law. The Contest is governed by U.S. law and subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. By entering the Contest, participants agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules ("Official Rules") and that they meet the eligibility requirements in the Official Rules. The decisions of the Sponsor regarding all matters relating to the Contest are final and binding

4. CONTESTANT SELECTION. Sponsor will select two individuals from the pool of eligible participants based on the number they have on their t-shirt, or “shersey”, acquired during the t-shirt toss in numerical order beginning with one (1) and two (2) around 10 a.m. CT on Oct. 11, 2025. Selected participants will have the chance to participate in a throwing contest (the “Contestants”). Sponsor will also select up to six alternates based on the number they have on their t-shirt, or “shersey”, in numerical order beginning with three (3) and ending with eight (8), (the “Alternate Contestants”) in the event the Contestants are ineligible or decline to participate in the Contest. Once selected, and as a condition of participation, Contestants (and Alternate Contestants, if applicable) will need to confirm their participation in the Contest by completing eligibility verification and signing the Participant Authorization and Waiver of Liability. Selection as a Contestant does not guarantee receipt of the Tuition Prize. Prior to awarding the prize, the selected Contestant must complete all required eligibility verification steps, including confirmation of current undergraduate enrollment, academic standing, and financial aid eligibility. Failure to meet these requirements or to timely complete verification may result in disqualification and forfeiture of the prize, at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Contestants agree to be filmed, photographed and/or interviewed and otherwise recorded and grant Sponsor the right to use all or any portion of such interviews and/or such footage/photos, including appearance, name, voice and likeness in all manner and media, whether now known or hereinafter developed, throughout the world in perpetuity, including for exhibition on Fox’s television networks and other media distribution platforms. Sponsor, its designees, successors, assigns and licensees, shall have the right to edit, modify, reproduce, distribute, display, perform, create derivative works based upon, or otherwise exploit the footage of the Contest and related events and all elements embodied therein, along with the Contestant’s name, biographical information, likeness, performance, voice or  image, in whole or in part, together with other materials, in any manner or media now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world in perpetuity for advertising, promotional and other purposes, without further compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law. Sponsor has no obligation to make use of the rights granted herein. Failure of Contestant to timely accept and complete the required documents as set forth above, may constitute forfeiture of being a Contestant, at Sponsor's sole discretion, and an Alternate Contestant will then have the opportunity to participate in the Contest. Potential Contestants must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements mentioned in these rules.

5. THE CONTEST. The Contestants (and Alternate Contestants, if applicable) must abide by the following rules for the Contest:

  • Contestants must participate in the Throwing Challenge on their own behalf. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request in accordance with university policy and applicable federal and state disability laws.
  • At a location designated by Sponsor, the two Contestants will each have the opportunity to pass as many footballs within thirty (30) seconds through a designated target. A Successful Pass is defined as a football thrown through the hole of the designated target and fully landing behind the target, which is thrown by Contestant while behind a designated throw line. Balls that bounce in and out or make contact without entering do not count. No warm-up or trial passes will be permitted by the Contestants prior to the Contest. The Contestant who throws the most Successful Passes will win the Tuition Prize.
  • Footballs will be pre-positioned within reach of each Contestant prior to the start of their 30-second round. Contestants may retrieve and throw as many balls as time allows.
  • Contestants must remain behind the throw line at all times during their round. Crossing the line will result in that throw being disqualified.
  • There are no restrictions on throwing style. Contestants may use overhand throws, underhand tosses, two-handed chest passes, or any other form of legal throw, as long as they remain behind the throw line.
  • Footballs and the designated target will be provided by Sponsor or Sponsor’s designee.
  • In the event both contestants achieve the same number of Successful Passes, a Tiebreaker Competition will be held. In the Tiebreaker Competition, each Contestant will receive an equal number of additional throws at Sponsor’s discretion (e.g., 1 throw each) using the above rules until the tie is broken by a Contestant throwing more Successful Passes than the other Contestant Further tiebreaker rounds may occur as needed until a winner is determined.
  • All of Sponsor’s and its judge’s decisions regarding positioning of Pass Contestants, timing of throws, and other details of the Pass Competition, Tiebreaker Competition, and Challenge shall be final.
  • All Contestants are subject to the Safety and Conduct requirements outlined in Section 2.
  • The Sponsor reserves the right to alter or modify the rules of the Contest for clarification purposes.
  • Sponsor and Sponsor’s representatives have the right to disqualify a Contestant for a violation of these conditions and rules.
  • Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or suspend the Contest at any time, for any reason (including, but not limited to, inclement weather or other safety concerns) in its sole discretion.
  • Locations, dates, and times are subject to change.

6.  PRIZE: The Contestant who successfully wins the Contest will be awarded the Tuition Prize, which is a scholarship of $13,000 (the equivalent of in-state base tuition for the fall and spring semesters as of the 2025-2026 academic year). The Tuition Prize will be administered in coordination with the Office of Student Financial Aid and may affect the recipient’s aid package. The Tuition Prize may be redeemed in 2025-26 through the 2026-27 academic years. The credit is valid only during the student’s undergraduate course of study. Upon graduation or loss of eligibility, any remaining credit will be forfeited. The Tuition Prize may be considered taxable and Form 1099-Miscellaneous Income will be issued. All state, federal, and local taxes or other expenses not specified herein are the sole responsibility of the winner. Winner should consult a tax advisor regarding the potential tax implications of accepting the Tuition Prize. The Tuition Prize is nontransferable, and no cash, cash equivalent, or other prize substitutions are permitted or will be made, in whole or in part, except in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied. If the Tuition Prize cannot be awarded for any reason, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value at its sole discretion. All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

7.  RELEASE AND INDEMNITY: By entering the Pit, and accepting a chance to participate in the Contest, participants (and in particular, Contestants) agree to release and to indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor and its officers, employees, trustees, agents, and assigns, Fox Sports 1, LLC, its parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies, units and divisions and advertising and promotional agencies; each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees; and each of these companies and individuals' respective successors, representatives and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") for any liability, injury, death, loss or damages to participant or any person or entity, including without limitation damage to personal or real property, caused in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by participation in this Contest (and/or related activities) or the acceptance, possession or use/misuse of a prize.

8. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment, hardware, software or programming associated or used with the Contest; (2) technical errors, defects, delays or failures of any kind, including without limitation malfunctions, interruptions or disconnections in communications lines, Internet or website access, hardware or software; (3) digital or electronic disruptions, e.g., viruses or other security breaches; (4) unauthorized human intervention, e.g., hacking; (5) technical or human error which may occur in connection with any aspect of the Contest; (6) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant's participation in the Contest, or receipt or use of any prize.

9. PRIVACY AND PUBLICITY: All personally identifiable information submitted by participants in the Contest will be used to administer the Contest, select Contestants and fulfill the prize. Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes participant's consent for the Sponsor, its designees, successors, assigns, and licensees to use of his/her name, likeness, voice, opinions, biographical information, and state of residence for promotional purposes in any and all media, in any manner, now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity without further consideration or any payment.

10. ADDITIONAL DISCLAIMERS: If the Contest is not capable of running as planned for any reason, including, without limitation, because of a printing error, human error, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure or other cause which corrupt or threaten to corrupt or adversely affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Contest. In addition, Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Contest due to force majeure events, including but not limited to natural disasters, public health emergencies, or other circumstances beyond its control. All participants, as a condition of entry, agree to abide by and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from this Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to permanently disqualify any person it believes has violated these Official Rules. Participants further agree to not knowingly damage or cause interruption of the Contest. Any person who supplies false information, obtains entries by fraudulent means, or is otherwise determined to be in violation of these official rules in an attempt to obtain any prize will forfeit any prize won and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

11. DISPUTES: Participant agrees that: (a) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and only in a court of appropriate jurisdiction within or having jurisdiction over Champaign County, Illinois and only in accordance with the Illinois Court of Claims Act, which governs claims against the Sponsor and may limit available remedies, without waiver of any sovereign immunity or other defenses or immunities afforded to Sponsor by Illinois and federal law, (b) all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Contest but in no Show attorneys' fees, and (c) under no circumstances will participant be permitted to obtain awards for and participant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the participant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Illinois.

12. OFFICIAL RULES/WINNERS LIST: The Official Rules are located at fightingillini.com/tuitionthrowingchallengerules. For a copy of the Official Rules and/or list of winners, mail a self-addressed stamped envelope (residents of VT may omit return postage) to 1700 S. Fourth St., Champaign, IL 61820. Requests must be received within sixty (60) days following the end of the Contest.

13. SPONSOR: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, 352 Henry Administration Building, MC-350, 506 S. Wright St., Urbana, IL 61801