Last year, we challenged marching bands at all collegiate levels to come up with the most exciting, unique, and impressive performances of our songs. The submissions are in, we’ve watched the videos, and we’re thrilled to announce that the University of South Carolina has taken the top prize in the 2025 Collegiate Edition of the annual competition. Congratulations Gamecocks! A huge thank you to all the incredible bands who participated this year.
The winners across seven categories listed below will receive more than $165,000 in total prizes. In an exciting twist on our second For Whom The Band Tolls competition, this year’s first-place Division 1 winner will have the opportunity to record a Metallica song and the EA SPORTS™ College Football Theme Song, both to be included in the EA SPORTS™ College Football video game!
The victors in each category will receive instruments and equipment for their programs provided by us with the support of our generous sponsors, including Sweetwater, TAMA, Hal Leonard, KHS America, and more.
And the winners of the Metallica Marching Band Competition Collegiate Edition are…
Division 1:
1st Place: University of South Carolina Columbia, SC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFzc5jB55yI&feature=youtu.be $50k Prizing + opportunity to record theme song and a Metallica song for next version of EA SPORTS™ College Football
2nd Place: Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XybRQfmtMw&t=1s $25k in Prizing
3rd Place: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spn3GZ4i4ZE $10k in Prizing
Division 2/Division 3:
1st Place: Riverside City College Riverside, CA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoyEz13TBo0 $40k in Prizing
2nd Place: Bridgewater College Bridgewater VA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFukrPZvr48 $20k in Prizing *Band director said that he would get his first tattoo if they placed in the top 3.
3rd Place: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCmFubNbavg $10k in Prizing
Fan Favorite Winner:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL $10k in Prizing
Visit metallicamarchingband.com for more information.
Time marches on!
