Indiana Senior Wins Franchise Fee Scholarship Born From a Bowl Bet

A college senior has been signed to operate a franchise territory in his own college town, the Tampa-based chain College H.U.N.K.S. said in an October 6, 2026 announcement distributed by PR Newswire.

Brady Wright, who studies entrepreneurship and corporate innovation at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, will develop the company's Bloomington, Indiana, territory and intends to open before he graduates in spring 2027. He won a scholarship that paid the initial franchise fee after seeing a television commercial for the contest; the company said the award grew out of a wager between co-founder Omar Soliman and legal and development officer Kelsie Ackman tied to the Indiana-Miami national championship game.

The company said Wright went through its standard process, reviewing the franchise disclosure document, visiting the Tampa headquarters and signing the same agreement as other owners. He also shadowed the operator of the Kalamazoo, Michigan, location.

"I'm 21, I definitely don't have everything figured out," Wright said. The chain, founded in 2003 and franchising since 2007, said it is still awarding 2026 territories in Fort Wayne and Evansville.

This story was first reported by PR Newswire.