JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select onchange="highlight(this)">
  <option selected="selected" class="invalid" disabled="disabled">Choose best player...</option>
  <option>Walter Payton</option>
  <option>Jim McMahon</option>
  <option>Mike Singletary</option>
  <option>Richard Dent</option>
  <option>Steve McMichael</option>
  <option>Wilber Marshall</option>
</select>

CSS

option.invalid {
    background: #eee;
}

option.valid {
    background: #ff8;
}

JavaScript

function highlight(field){
    field.options[0].className = 'valid';
}