Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and media personality who led Turning Point USA, was fatally shot this week during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, and college football fans marked the first Saturday of the season since his death.
Kirk was widely known for his campus organizing and as a prominent voice in conservative media. He was also an avid sports fan, frequently noting his support for the Oregon Ducks despite not being from Oregon. OutKick founder Clay Travis and other sports figures and student groups highlighted Kirk’s affinity for college football and his presence on campuses when remembering him over the weekend.
On Saturday, Oregon was on the road against Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois, the first college football Saturday since the shooting. The game took place not far from the Chicago suburbs where Kirk grew up; it was unclear whether he had planned to attend, but friends and colleagues said he frequently followed Ducks games and posted about players, including a 2024 photo with then-Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.
Although some college teams and athletic programs traditionally stage in-stadium tributes for public figures, there were relatively few formal stadium observances tied directly to Kirk across college football over the weekend. Student bodies at multiple campuses arranged their own remembrances and social-media posts, and several players and coaches acknowledged him privately or in locker-room settings, according to people familiar with those conversations.
Kirk spent much of his public life on college campuses, cultivating conservative student organizations and promoting debate initiatives. He remained an active presence at Turning Point USA events; photographs show Kirk handing out hats and speaking at a Turning Point gathering at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
The Oregon Ducks are scheduled to return to Autzen Stadium on Sept. 20 to host in-state rival Oregon State. Team officials have said plans for any public tributes would be announced closer to the date. Kirk’s death has prompted a range of responses from students, activists and public figures who noted his influence on campus politics and his prominence as a media personality.
Authorities in Utah continue to investigate the circumstances of the shooting. Turning Point USA and other organizations issued statements mourning the loss and asking for space for grieving students and family members. The shooting has renewed discussions about security at political and campus events and about the risks public figures may face while appearing on college campuses.
The weekend’s college football schedule offered a visible reminder of Kirk’s interest in the sport and the campus communities where he had concentrated much of his organizing work. Students and fans who knew him or followed his work used games and campus gatherings over the weekend to share memories and, in some cases, to call for continued engagement with the political causes he championed.