Pat McAfee contest reaches $14 million in payouts on College GameDay

ESPN analyst Pat McAfee’s “Kicking Is Easy” contest has distributed more than $14 million in prizes and charitable donations. During the 2026 season, eight broadcasts have produced $8.5 million for students and charities.

Funding for the contest has evolved from being entirely funded by McAfee to a partnership with Home Depot, which matches his weekly pledges to establish the standard $1 million prize. Other contributors include Matthew McConaughey, Kirk Herbstreit, and Ryan Smith.

Notable recent winners include BYU freshman Carter Smith, who hit a record $3 million kick, and Texas freshman Connor Kacena-Merrell, who won $1.2 million. The contest also supports various causes, such as a $1 million donation to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and $500,000 for Hurricane Isaias recovery efforts.