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Tennessee Scholars’ Bowl, an exciting academic tournament featuring students from 46 high schools in East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky, begins airing its 41st season on Monday, Jan. 13, on East Tennessee PBS. New episodes will air weekdays at 5:30 p.m. ET through April 3.

The host and head-writer of Tennessee Scholars’ Bowl is Frank Murphy, who returns for his ninth season on the show. Murphy is an experienced broadcaster, podcaster, and improviser in the Knoxville area. 

Public, private, parochial and home schools compete in Tennessee Scholars’ Bowl. Tennessee counties represented in the 2025 tournament are Anderson, Blount, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington. Several schools sent multiple teams to the tournament. 

Teams of four students answer questions in Literature, Language, Science, Art, Math, Geography, Music, Sports, History, Religion, Current Events, and other subjects. Each game is a single elimination match. Winning teams advance to rounds of thirty-two, sixteen, eight, and four before the final two teams compete for the Frank Miller Memorial Trophy and a $1,000 cash stipend in the championship game.

After the first-round games are completed, the “Threshold of 32” begins airing on February 20, 2025. The “Smart 16” begins airing on March 14, 2025. The “Educated 8” begins airing on March 26, 2025. The “Philosophical 4” begins airing on April 1, 2025. The championship game will air on April 3, 2025.

Recent Tennessee Scholars’ Bowl champions include Hardin Valley Academy in 2024, J. Frank White Academy in 2023, Maryville High School in 2022, Hardin Valley Academy in 2021, Cedar Springs Homeschool in 2020 and 2019, Webb School of Knoxville in 2018, and Farragut High School in 2017. 

Broadcast dates on East Tennessee PBS:

Mon 1/13/2025 – L&N STEM vs West Ridge 

Tues 1/14/2025 – Cedar Springs vs Karns 

Wed 1/15/2025 – Grace Christian vs Hardin Valley  

Thurs 1/16/2025 – Science Hill vs Sullivan East 

Fri 1/17/2025 – Roane County vs Sweetwater 

Mon 1/20/2025 – Gibbs vs Knox Central 

Tues 1/21/2025 – Greeneville vs Morristown East 

Wed 1/22/2025 – Gatlinburg-Pittman vs Happy Valley 

Thurs 1/23/2025 – L&N STEM vs Loudon 

Fri 1/24/2025 – Sequoyah vs Webb 

Mon 1/27/2025 – Corbin, Kentucky vs J Frank White 

Tues 1/28/2025 – Happy Valley vs Seymour 

Wed 1/29/2025 – Rockwood vs Unicoi County 

Thurs 1/30/2025 – Jefferson County vs Seymour 

Fri 1/31/2025 – Oneida vs West Ridge 

Mon 2/3/2025 – Greeneville vs Jefferson County 

Tues 2/4/2025 – Daniel Boone vs Providence 

Wed 2/5/2025 – Christian Academy Knoxville vs Hardin Valley 

Thurs 2/6/2025 – Maryville vs Pigeon Forge 

Fri 2/7/2025 – Providence vs South Greene 

Mon 2/10/2025 – Career Magnet vs Webb 

Tues 2/11/2025 – Anderson County vs Temple Academy 

Wed 2/12/2025 – Cocke County vs Halls 

Thurs 2/13/2025 – Alcoa vs Morristown West 

Fri 2/14/2025 – Harriman vs Knoxville Catholic 

Mon 2/17/2025 – Dobyns-Bennett vs Midway 

Tues 2/18/2025 – Cedar Springs vs Scott County 

Wed 2/19/2025 – Dobyns-Bennett vs Sevier County 

Thurs 2/20/2025 – Farragut vs Rockwood