Warm-water surprise boosts Emmanuel University’s Dunn & Mcguffin to Okeechobee win
Peyton Dunn and Luke Mcguffin of Emmanuel University have won the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 32 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Tyler Bridges/B.A.S.S.
Jan. 29, 2026
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — After Peyton Dunn and Luke Mcguffin found a “magical spot” and grabbed the Day 1 lead in the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Okeechobee presented by Bass Pro Shops, their greatest fear was that other anglers might fish the same area and disrupt their momentum.
Other teams did fish nearby on Thursday in the second and final day of the derby, but none found the weight needed to knock the Emmanuel University duo from the pole position.
Dunn and Mcguffin caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 14 ounces to claim the tournament title here in south Florida. They caught a limit of 12 pounds, 5 ounces on Thursday – considerably less than the 20-9 limit they sacked on Wednesday, but easily enough to hold off the field off the field of 219 teams fishing on legendary Lake Okeechobee this week.
Dunn and Mcguffin netted $6,921 for the Emmanuel University bass team, part of a cash purse of $23,269 that was split among the Top 10 duos.
The victors finished more than five pounds ahead of their closest competitors , but the win didn’t come as easily as it might seem. Dunn and Mcguffin said they caught only 10 keeper fish on Day 2, relying heavily on an early-morning flurry that got a limit in the livewell. They upgraded only a couple times and said Thursday’s best bass weighed about 3 1/2 pounds.
“We battled all day long and really struggled to get the fish we needed,” said Mcguffin, a 19-year-old freshman from Seneca, SC. “We knew the right fish were there, it was just getting them to bite or not. We thought we might pick off a big one or two, but it didn’t happen. When we were making the (40-minute) run back, we thought we were gonna come up short by a pound or two. But when we got to the tanks and saw what was in front of us, we realized we had a shot.
“You go from completely stressed to holding the trophy,” Mcguffin added.
Dunn and Mcguffin fished in the Indian Prairie area of Lake Okeechobee. Dunn said the key was a small pipe beneath the surface that warmed the water they fished, and with 35-degree temperatures to start both mornings, the extra heat helped them turn up the heat on the largemouth bass.
“We kept hearing water temperature in the main lake was 56, 58 degrees,” Dunn said. “But we were fishing in water that was 65 degrees. It’s not much, but it made a huge difference.”
Still, others fished the area but didn’t manage the weight needed to catch the Emmanuel tandem.
“We saw six boats yesterday and today it was about 40,” Dunn said. “The traffic ruined the water color today and made it challenging to get them in the boat.”
Dunn and Mcguffin caught their best fish on a black/blue 6-inch Senko worm on a 5/0 Gamakatsu wide gap hook. They also used white and clear Berkley Stunna jerkbaits and a Berkley General stickbait.
“There were about 30 yards of reeds near the bank by this pipe,” Dunn said. “It was just a great set up.”
Rounding out the Top 5 teams at Okeechobee are second, Joe Vaulton and Walker Larue, Carson-Newman University, 27-8; third, Lane Clark and Tallis Morrison, Erskine College, 26-9; fourth, Bryson Dotson and Victor Alford, Tennessee Wesleyan University, 25-4; and fifth, Nolan Gray and Riley Brown, Carson-Newman University, 25-0.
The Big Bass Award went to Carson-Newman’s Kaden Casey and Collin French who boated an 8-14 largemouth on Day 1, good enough to split a $200 prize. They finished 40th in the tournament.
The Top 22 teams at Okeechobee (10% of the field) earned a spot in the Strike King Bassmaster College Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops later this year. This was the first of three tournaments on the Lunkers Trail this year. B.A.S.S. has a two-division format (both the Legends and Lunkers trails each have three tournaments) which is designed to give college anglers additional opportunities to compete.
Okeechobee County Tourist Development Center hosted this event.
2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lake Okeechobee – Lunkers 1/28-1/29
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee City FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Peyton Dunn – Luke Mcguffin Emmanuel University 250
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 10 32-14
2. Joe Vaulton – Walker LaRue Carson-Newman University 249
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 15-14 Total: 10 27-08
3. Lane Clark – Tallis Morrison Erskine College 248
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 10 26-09
4. Bryson Dotson – Victor Alford Tennessee Wesleyan University 247
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 10 25-04
5. Nolan Gray – Riley Brown Carson-Newman University 246
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 25-00
6. Ethan Burnette – Cameron Dials Kentucky Christian University 245
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 13-11 Total: 10 24-15
7. Anderson Jones – Lander University 244
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 12-12 Total: 10 24-12
8. Szymon Piton – Riley Faulkner Carson-Newman University 243
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 15-03 Total: 10 24-10
9. Graham Flaherty – Nathan Preston Auburn University 242
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 12-00 Total: 10 23-15
10. Caleb Neu – Jakob Dreher Bethel University 241
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 5 16-11 Total: 8 21-10
11. Ryan Small – David Buccafuri Penn State University 240
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 3 11-00 Total: 8 21-06
12. Will Wester – Jackson Thomas Emmanuel University 239
Day 1: 2 08-01 Day 2: 5 13-03 Total: 7 21-04
13. Bryson Gurley – Ethan Evatt USC – Union 238
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 4 09-07 Total: 9 21-00
14. Noah Haas – Jace French Purdue University 237
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 1 03-12 Total: 6 20-08
15. Brycen Williamson – Reed Rooke Erskine College 236
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 7 20-07
16. Elijah Kelley – Kyle Smith Kentucky Christian University 235
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 2 06-07 Total: 7 20-00
17. Andrew Terry – Kole Weir Bryan College 234
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 4 09-02 Total: 9 19-13
18. Max Hondorp – Ridge Faircloth Troy University 233
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 10-04 Total: 10 19-11
19. Cole Petroff – Noah Loxley Tennessee Tech University 232
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 19-04
20. Quinn Williams – Emery Burnett Georgia Southern University 231
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 4 10-02 Total: 9 19-01
21. Jackson Fuller – Grant Steinauer Auburn University 230
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 3 08-15 Total: 8 18-13
22. Cole Russell – Ty Trentham University of Tennessee 229
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 1 04-00 Total: 6 18-08
23. Reece Keeney – Brantley Anders Kentucky Christian University 228
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 10 18-08
24. John Cooper – Daxton Wammack University of North Alabama 227
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 3 05-02 Total: 8 18-07
25. Luke Wyle – Trey Richardson III Auburn University 226
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 5 09-12 Total: 9 17-11
26. Jaxon Leverette – Austin Sawyer Troy University 225
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 3 07-05 Total: 8 17-10
27. Colin Oldfield – Jack Miner Michigan State University 224
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 3 06-14 Total: 8 17-08
28. Cole Moulton – Jared Hubbard Lander University 223
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 2 11-08 Total: 5 17-07
29. Brendin Simich – Carter Stambelos Auburn University 222
Day 1: 2 07-06 Day 2: 4 10-01 Total: 6 17-07
30. CJ Chavous Jr. – Landon Bannister USC – Union 221
Day 1: 2 10-00 Day 2: 4 07-05 Total: 6 17-05
31. Joe Mcnamara – Grady Mcclendon University of North Alabama 220
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-12 Total: 10 17-04
32. Brayden Ruckman – Zach Wolfe Carson-Newman University 219
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 2 06-04 Total: 5 16-12
33. Drew Pitts – Nicholas DellaPorta Carson-Newman University 218
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 5 08-06 Total: 8 16-10
34. Landen Parsons – Brayden Wilson Bethel University 217
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 5 13-06 Total: 7 16-09
35. Fischer Barber – Troy University 216
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 2 04-03 Total: 7 16-08
36. Andrew Turner – Evan Powell Carson-Newman University 215
Day 1: 3 09-13 Day 2: 2 06-09 Total: 5 16-06
37. Carter Steed – Brewton-Parker College 214
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 2 07-03 Total: 6 15-13
38. Jake Brown – Nathan Reynolds University of North Alabama 213
Day 1: 4 08-12 Day 2: 3 07-00 Total: 7 15-12
39. Quade Lobo – Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. Adrian College 212
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 7 15-06
40. Kaden Casey – Collin French Carson-Newman University 211
Day 1: 3 11-13 Day 2: 2 03-07 Total: 5 15-04
41. Tanner Herndon – Mason Taylor Bryan College 210
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 5 10-12 Total: 7 15-03
42. Robie Vines Jr – Colby Bryan Catawba Valley Community College 209
Day 1: 1 04-11 Day 2: 5 10-07 Total: 6 15-02
43. Ryan Wiener – Max Meyer Alexandria Technical And Communi 208
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 14-14
44. Nick Fashho – Mason Stidwill Oakland University 207
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 2 04-03 Total: 7 14-14
45. Gavin Seewald – Drew Turnbull University of North Alabama 206
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 5 09-03 Total: 8 14-14
46. Anderson Keim – Adam Hyder Clemson University 205
Day 1: 2 09-04 Day 2: 3 05-06 Total: 5 14-10
47. Will Kimbrough – Mac Nail Georgia Southern University 204
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 3 00-00 Total: 8 14-03
48. Drew Kuhnle – Landon Rollison Lander University 203
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 1 04-00 Total: 6 14-03
49. Hayden Williams – Chase Rogers USC – Union 202
Day 1: 4 10-02 Day 2: 2 03-15 Total: 6 14-01
50. Will Hammond – John Such Lander University 201
Day 1: 2 06-13 Day 2: 4 07-02 Total: 6 13-15
51. Hunter Starling – William Vickery Georgia Southern University 200
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 4 12-00 Total: 5 13-11
52. Colin Chavers – Preston Barnett Auburn University 199
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 5 11-01 Total: 6 13-08
53. Trenton Carey – Cody Abbott Lander University 198
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 2 09-02 Total: 4 13-06
54. Cameron Seay – Nate Campbell USC – Union 197
Day 1: 4 13-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 13-01
55. Zach Helton – Blake Wheat Carson-Newman University 196
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 1 04-06 Total: 4 13-00
56. Skyler Stevens – Grant McCraney Faulkner University 195
Day 1: 1 06-14 Day 2: 2 06-02 Total: 3 13-00
57. Brady Osborn – Connor Racine Adrian College 194
Day 1: 2 07-02 Day 2: 1 05-11 Total: 3 12-13
58. Nick Hawkins – Chase Wollam Southeastern University 193
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-07
59. Cooper Hughes – Brett Bucolo Florida Gulf Coast University 192
Day 1: 4 12-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 12-07
60. Diego Alea – Carter Teune Southeastern University 191
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 5 08-15 Total: 7 12-07
61. Richard Johnson III – Tanner Hamilton Troy University 190
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 3 07-00 Total: 6 12-06
62. Wes Smith II – Caden Gettys Catawba Valley Community College 189
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-05
63. Spencer Grooms – Auburn University 188
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 3 08-08 Total: 5 11-15
64. Carson Peeters – Drew Wagner University of Wisconsin – Steven 187
Day 1: 1 08-04 Day 2: 2 03-11 Total: 3 11-15
65. Jackson Mitchell – Will Shepherd Carson-Newman University 186
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 1 03-04 Total: 4 11-14
66. Jake Lovingood – Bryson Hatcher Bryan College 185
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 1 02-03 Total: 6 11-12
67. Jackson Shore – Fletcher Allen Unc – Charlotte 184
Day 1: 1 04-09 Day 2: 3 07-03 Total: 4 11-12
68. Garrett Sullivan – Hayes Pate Faulkner University 183
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 2 05-05 Total: 5 11-07
69. Hunter Owens – Jackie Hatfield Carson-Newman University 182
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 1 03-02 Total: 5 11-06
70. Zion Dunaway – Andrew Krintz Purdue University 181
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 3 05-01 Total: 6 11-06
71. Alex Geroulis – William Brogan Indiana University 180
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 1 07-06 Total: 3 11-05
72. Emerson Petty – Carson Falk Tennessee Wesleyan University 179
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 6 11-02
73. Hampton Shull – Landon Surrett Lander University 178
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 1 02-14 Total: 6 10-15
74. Kyle Herrman – Nick Herrman Erskine College 177
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-12 Total: 5 10-12
75. Tucker Sutherland – Brier Hardy Faulkner U
