College Football Fans React To Unique Electric Guitar National Anthem Performance
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National Anthem Without Words Sparks Fan Reactions
College football changed things up on Saturday (September 19) as Kansas and Arizona State competed overseas in London, England for the inaugural Union Jack Classic.
The Big 12 matchup gave both programs a chance to play outside the United States, adding an international setting to the 2026 college football season. The game was part of a growing effort to bring college football to audiences beyond the United States.
Arizona State’s headcoach Kenny Dillingham described the opportunity to play at Wembley Stadium as “special.”
Ahead of Saturday’s big game, Paige Blake delivered a never before seen performance of the National Anthem. Blake played electric guitar without singing a single word, giving the traditional pregame ceremony an unconventional twist.
According to her website, Blake is a blues and rock guitarist based in Los Angeles. Organizers first announced her performance on August 21.
Inside Wembley, tens of thousands of American fans sang along with the instrumental performance, with their voices at times overpowering the guitar. However, the reaction from viewers watching the game at home was more divided.
The performance also drew comparisons to Jimi Hendrix, who famously performed an instrumental version of the national anthem on electric guitar. Several fans suggested Black’s rendition was a nod to Hendrix, whose death anniversary fell the day before the game.
Blake’s rendition was met with mixed reactions on social media. Some fans questioned the unconventional playing of the national anthem, while others praised Blake’s guitar performance as a creative interpretation of the song.
You can watch the full National Anthem performance below.
