Members of the Indiana University football team weren’t the only ones with cause to celebrate at the end of the 2026 College Football National Championship this past Monday.
Local resident Tom Kirchoff, like the Hoosiers, was also celebrating a first-time victory as the winner of the KVOE Bowl Challenge.
Kirchoff says his path to victory included a lot of studying.
Kirchoff collected his winnings, a $500 Flint Hills Lanes gift card, at Flint Hills Lanes Friday afternoon after accumulating 114 points during the 2026 college football bowl season. Finishing in second place with 109 points, receiving a $300 gift card, was Karen Crouch, who says she is planning a lot of family time with her winnings.
Finishing in third place with 108 points this year was Ron Alexander, who was unable to attend Friday’s presentation. As always, Bowl Challenge contestants used entry forms available at Flint Hills Lanes, Gambino’s Pizza and The Liquor Store to pick the NCAA Division I bowl game winners. Contestants could also earn buzzwords to get bonus points to improve their totals.
