Pat McAfee's Kicking Challenge Awards $2.2 Million in Just Three Weeks
Pat McAfee's College GameDay kicking challenge has awarded $2.2 million to college students in just its first three weeks this season.
The contest, which was launched by ESPN analyst Pat McAfee in 2023, allows students to attempt a 33-yard kick for a prize of five or six figures. This season, contestants can win more than during previous years, thanks to Home Depot's agreement to match McAfee's contributions.
Freshman finance major James Whitehead from Ole Miss made his first attempt on Saturday and won the $1 million prize, with half coming from McAfee and half from Home Depot. Contestants are chosen through a raffle system, where fans who are 18 or older and among the first 300 to show up to the broadcast can enter their name about 30 minutes before the show begins.
The gimmick has become a fan favorite and show highlight, with some episodes featuring extra challenges and charity components. In December 2024, the GameDay crew drove McAfee's goalposts in a truck overnight from South Bend, Ind., to Columbus, Ohio, during a special two-episode, 24-hour expanded College Football Playoff edition of the show.