Joe Buck joined the judging panel as former NFL players returned to the ballroom, while Jenna Dewan and Ezra Frech shared the highest scores of the October 13 episode.
Dancing With the Stars celebrated its first Super Bowl Night on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, bringing football legends, halftime show music and a guest judge to the ballroom. The evening ended with Guillermo Rodriguez and professional partner Witney Carson being eliminated after receiving the lowest judges’ score of the night.
The special episode featured 11 celebrity couples performing to songs associated with memorable Super Bowl halftime shows. ESPN broadcaster Joe Buck joined regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, while four former NFL players returned for special appearances.
The event also looked ahead to Super Bowl LXI, scheduled for February 14, 2027, with ABC and ESPN broadcasting the championship game. The football theme gave contestants an opportunity to perform routines inspired by some of the biggest names in popular music.
Guillermo Rodriguez Eliminated After Salsa Performance
Rodriguez, best known for his appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performed a salsa with Carson to Bad Bunny’s “Tití Me Preguntó.”
The routine earned 22 out of 40 points, placing the couple at the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard. Rodriguez received scores of six from Inaba and Buck, while Hough and Tonioli each awarded five points.
Despite the low total, the judges acknowledged his improvement from the previous week. Rodriguez appeared more comfortable with the choreography and brought greater energy to the performance.
Inaba particularly appreciated the change after previously criticizing his lack of enthusiasm. She told Rodriguez that he had responded to her earlier feedback and appeared to enjoy dancing again.
The improvement was not enough to secure another week in the competition.
When hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough announced the results, Rodriguez and Carson learned that their combined judges’ scores and viewer votes placed them last.
Rodriguez expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate and thanked Carson for her support throughout the season. Carson praised her partner’s personality and the effort he had put into learning ballroom dancing.
Their elimination followed the departure of Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong on October 6. That earlier result had surprised viewers because Miller had shown improvement during Mariah Carey Night.
The elimination system combines judges’ scores with votes submitted by viewers during the live broadcast. A couple’s position on the judges’ leaderboard therefore does not determine the result by itself.
Jenna Dewan and Ezra Frech Share Top Score
Two couples finished tied for first place with 36 out of 40 points.
Actress Jenna Dewan and professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy delivered a paso doble to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” All four judges awarded nine points, giving the couple one of the evening’s strongest performances.
The routine combined sharp movements, dramatic choreography and the intensity associated with the paso doble. Dewan’s experience as a professional dancer was evident throughout the performance.
The judges praised the couple’s control and presentation. Tonioli described the routine as brilliant, while Inaba compared the performance to scoring a touchdown.
Paralympic athlete Ezra Frech and partner Daniella Karagach matched that total with a salsa to Nelly’s “Hot in Herre.”
Their performance also earned four nines. The judges highlighted Frech’s confidence, stage presence and ability to interpret the music through movement.
Frech has become one of the season’s notable competitors through his willingness to attempt demanding choreography. His partnership with Karagach has produced increasingly strong scores as the competition progresses.
The tie demonstrated that both couples had established themselves among the leading contenders for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Although the judges awarded identical scores, the two routines featured very different dance styles. Dewan relied on the dramatic character of the paso doble, while Frech emphasized the rhythm and energy of salsa.
Other Contestants Deliver Strong Performances
Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas opened the competitive portion of the evening with a tango to Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In the World).”
Their routine earned 33 points, including a nine from Buck. Higgins had experienced neck discomfort during rehearsals but completed the performance.
Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov performed a samba to “Mi Gente” by J Balvin and Willy William. The judges awarded them 34 points, placing the couple among the highest scorers.
Actor Harry Shum Jr. and professional dancer Jenna Johnson received 33 points for their samba to Usher’s “Yeah!” The performance emphasized fast movements and the lively character of the music.
Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa also earned 33 points with a jazz routine to Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny From the Block.”
Jackson Olson and Emma Slater performed a salsa to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars. Their routine received 31 points.
Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess earned 30 points for a jazz performance set to the Black Eyed Peas’ “The Time (Dirty Bit).”
Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik danced salsa to Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up,” receiving 29 points.
Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold finished with 25 points following their performance. Although their score was among the lowest, the pair received enough support through the combined voting system to advance.
The varied scores reflected differences in technique, musical interpretation and the judges’ expectations. Contestants were evaluated on how effectively they performed their assigned routines rather than simply recreating the original halftime shows.
NFL Legends Return to the Ballroom
The evening brought back four former NFL players who had previously competed on Dancing With the Stars.
Emmitt Smith, Donald Driver, DeMarcus Ware and Danny Amendola appeared as part of the football-themed celebration.
Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, won the third season of Dancing With the Stars in 2006 alongside professional partner Cheryl Burke.
Driver, a former Green Bay Packers wide receiver, won the competition in 2012 with Peta Murgatroyd. His appearance recalled one of the show’s successful partnerships between a professional football player and a ballroom dancer.
Ware, a former Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos linebacker, competed during season 27 in 2018. Amendola, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, finished fifth during season 33 in 2024.
Their return connected the football celebration with the show’s history of featuring professional athletes.
NFL players have often performed well on the program, bringing physical conditioning, coordination and competitive experience to the ballroom. However, success in football does not automatically translate into mastery of ballroom technique.
The opening production featured music by Bad Bunny, Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar. Professional dancers also participated in special performances designed around the football theme.
Joe Buck Joins the Judges
Buck’s appearance marked his first guest judging assignment during season 35.
The longtime sports broadcaster is known for calling major NFL and Major League Baseball games. He currently works on ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcasts.
ABC confirmed his participation ahead of the episode as part of the network’s promotion for its upcoming Super Bowl coverage.
Buck joined Inaba, Hough and Tonioli in evaluating every competitive performance. With four judges instead of the usual three, each couple could receive a maximum of 40 points.
His scores generally aligned with the regular panel, although he sometimes awarded slightly higher marks. Buck gave Higgins and Ballas a nine for their opening tango and also awarded strong scores to several other performers.
The guest judge helped connect the football theme to the scoring portion of the program rather than limiting it to musical performances and celebrity appearances.
Ten Couples Advance to Dedication Night
Following Rodriguez and Carson’s elimination, 10 celebrity couples remain in contention for the Mirrorball Trophy.
Dewan and Frech enter the next round with momentum after tying for the highest score. Glenn, Higgins, Stiles and Shum also delivered performances that kept them competitive.
However, the results demonstrated that strong judges’ scores are only one part of surviving the competition. Viewer support continues to play an important role in determining which couples advance.
The next episode is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, with Dedication Night giving contestants an opportunity to perform routines connected to meaningful people or experiences in their lives.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on ABC and Disney+. Episodes are available on Hulu the following day.
After five weeks of competitive performances, the field has narrowed from its original 16 celebrities to 10. The remaining contestants will continue competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy as season 35 moves toward its November finale.
IMAGE: DNR Art Department