Revamped Pat McAfee Kicking Contest Pays First Winner $1.2M

Pat McAfee's revamped kicking contest on ESPN's College GameDay awarded its first winner of the 2026 season, Connor Kecena-Merrell, $1.2 million Saturday morning in Austin. Kecena-Merrell, a freshman from Indiana, made his second attempt at a 33-yard field goal after missing the first for $1 million. This year, a Home Depot match has been added to McAfee's financial assistance for the contest, which had its prize and charity money fully funded by McAfee for the past three seasons.

Home Depot is now part of the kicking contest and is matching the amount of money McAfee offers up each week. McAfee announced the update last weekend, with fellow GameDay co-host Kirk Herbstreit and Texas superfan Matthew McConaughey each chipping in $100,000 to raise the second attempt to $1.2 million. Last week's participant in Baton Rouge missed two attempts, while Connor has been praised as having "the best leg we've had!"

McAfee's kicking contest took center stage last season, but its future was uncertain before GameDay host Rece Davis expressed hope for its return. McAfee and ESPN are currently in contract extension talks, which could see him earn over $60 million per year from the network.