It was the kind of moment that makes you lean forward on your couch, popcorn spilling, phone in hand, ready to tweet before the rest of America even registers what just happened. The lights were low, the graphics flashed, and NBC’s iconic “Sunday Night Football” player intros began rolling — but this time, George Pickens wasn’t here to play it safe.

The camera cut to Pickens, the Cowboys’ shiny new weapon, and instead of the usual monotone “University of Georgia,” he flashed a grin that could light up Jerry World and declared, “George Pickens, Drip University.” Instantly, the internet exploded. “He didn’t just say that, did he?” gasped Al Michaels in the booth, half laughing, half in awe. “Drip University, folks. You heard it here first.”

Fans had all sorts of hilarious reactions to George Pickens’ “Drip University” comment:

“🤣🤣,” wrote a fan.

For a split second, you could almost hear the producers in the NBC control room scrambling, wondering if they’d need to edit it out for the West Coast feed. But Pickens wasn’t backing down. He stared straight into the lens, daring anyone to question his swagger. The Cowboys sideline erupted in laughter. CeeDee Lamb, his new running mate, slapped him on the helmet. “That’s how you make an entrance, bro!” Lamb shouted, grinning from ear to ear.

Social media had a meltdown. “George Pickens just rebranded the whole league,” tweeted @GridironGuru. “Forget Georgia, I’m enrolling at Drip U,” joked @CowboysQueen. Memes popped up faster than you could refresh your feed: Pickens in a graduation cap, Pickens with sunglasses and a gold chain, Pickens handing out diplomas to the rest of the receiving corps.

It wasn’t just the fans who loved it. Even the Eagles defense, preparing for war, couldn’t help but crack a smile. “Man, Pickens is wild,” muttered Darius Slay as he laced up his cleats. “He’s got that energy. You gotta respect it.” The NBC sideline reporter caught Pickens after warmups. “What’s Drip University?” she asked, barely containing her laughter. Pickens winked. “It’s wherever I am. You gotta have swag to enroll.”

“George Pickens Drip University” 🤣,” wrote a user.

“George Pickens … Drip University … LOL #NFLKickoff,” a fan commented.

“George Pickens – DRIP UNIVERSITY 😭 We are back,” said another.

The Cowboys had pulled off a blockbuster trade after the draft, sending shockwaves through the NFL by prying Pickens away from Pittsburgh. Now, here he was, 24 years old, in the final year of his rookie deal, ready to torch defenses alongside Lamb. Last season, Pickens had put up 1,140 yards and five touchdowns — but tonight, he was making headlines before the ball was even snapped.

As kickoff approached, you could feel the anticipation. “This is why we watch football,” posted @SNFAddict. “Not just for the plays, but for the personalities.” The stadium announcer tried to keep a straight face as he introduced the starters, but Pickens’ “Drip University” echoed through the speakers, drawing cheers from Cowboys fans and groans from Eagles diehards.

Back in Pittsburgh, Steelers fans watched in bittersweet silence. “We miss him already,” admitted @SteelCurtainForever. “But you gotta love the guy’s style.” Even former teammates chimed in. “Pickens always had that juice,” tweeted Kenny Pickett. “Now he’s sharing it with the world.”

In a league obsessed with tradition, George Pickens had just rewritten the rules — and everyone was loving it. As the game kicked off, it didn’t matter if you rooted for the Cowboys, Eagles, or anyone else. Tonight, everyone was a proud graduate of Drip University.

And as one fan put it best: “Football’s back. The drip is real. Let’s ride.”