The Upset: Life (Sports), Death…And the Legacy We Leave in the Middle

The Upset: Life (Sports), Death…and the Legacy We Leave in the Middle

October 20, 2018, was just another normal Saturday in college football – or so it seemed. Amid all the matchups discussed on ESPN that day, it was a special video featuring the harrowing story of Tyler Trent – along with his bold, yet accurate, prediction that Purdue would upset Ohio State – “that captured the hearts of millions.”

The Upset chronicles so much more than just an inspiring battle against the seemingly impossible opponent of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. A brilliant young statistician and sportswriter, Tyler faced his own mortality, and his life reflects the remarkable eternal upset only experienced in faith, family, and authentic community.

Tyler Trent (September 7, 1988 - January 1, 2019) was an American sports writer, a computer technology analyst, who at the age of 15 years old was diagnosed with a rare bone diseased known as Osteosarcoma. He has written for various publications in his home state of Indiana such as The Indianapolis Star and Purdue Exponent. He was a figure of leadership in the battle against cancer as he raised funds for research.