Smith and Blanton Go Back-to-Back at Bassmaster College National Championship

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – It took a little extra time on the water, but Garrett Smith and Andrew Blanton came through once again. A 17-inch bass caught by Blanton during a sudden-death cast clinched the duo's second consecutive Bassmaster College Series National Championship this past weekend at Cherokee Lake in Tennessee.

Smith and Blanton, who won the 2023 title on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, became the first team in tournament history to win back-to-back national championships — and the first to win multiple titles overall.

The Lander pair landed 15 total fish across the three-day tournament, maxing out their five-a-day limit for a total weight of 43 pounds, 3 ounces. That weight brought them into a tie with Carson-Newman's Andrew Turner and James Sumrell, setting up the first-ever fish-off in tournament history.

Smith and Blanton may have had the championship in regulation if not for a penalty incurred when one of their catches died shortly after being reeled in — a deduction that ultimately helped force the tie.

The Bearcats sat in sixth place after day one but surged into second with a 15-pound, 12-ounce haul on day two. Their 12-pound, 10-ounce effort on the final day, including the penalty, was enough to match Carson-Newman at the top and send the championship into sudden death.

The rules of the fish-off were simple: the first team to catch a legal bass (15 inches or longer), regardless of weight, would win the title. It took just six casts before Blanton delivered the winning 17-inch catch — sparking a championship celebration on the boat.

In addition to their national title, Smith and Blanton were named Bassmaster All-Americans and will each compete individually in the 2025 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's. The winner of that event will earn a spot in the 2026 Bassmaster Classic, the sport's premier event. More information about the College Classic Bracket will be released at a later date.

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Players Mentioned

Andrew Blanton: Sophomore

Garrett Smith: Senior

Players Mentioned

Andrew Blanton
: Sophomore

Garrett Smith
: Senior