Stephen A. Smith willing to try Pat McAfee’s kicking contest on ‘College GameDay’

Stephen A. Smith loves Pat McAfee’s kicking contest on College GameDay. He loves it so much that he’s willing to be a participant.

After a GameDay promo aired on First Take Tuesday morning, Smith took a minute to praise the legendary college football show, calling out McAfee’s now-famous kicking contest as his favorite part.

“There is very little in television that’s funnier than that damn Pat McAfee field goal contest. It’s hilarious” – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/43PDW2MfJh

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 1, 2026

“There is very little in television that’s funnier than that damn Pat McAfee field goal contest,” Smith insisted. “It’s hilarious. I don’t know where he finds these; these people can’t kick at all.”

If he loves it so much, then First Take host Courtney Cronin suggested Smith should put his kicking on display one week on College GameDay this season.

“I might catch a cramp,” Smith said. “Don’t give Pat McAfee and them any ideas cause they’ll actually ask me to go out there and try to kick, and I’ll really embarrass myself. You think those kids are bad? Could you imagine me trying to kick a field goal? That would be a bad sight to see. It would be worse than the first pitch.”

But Smith would be easily swayed. Because when Paul Finebaum predicted College GameDay could head to Los Angeles to see Ohio State against USC this season, the First Take star sounded willing to join. Smith recently shared that his oldest daughter is in her first year as a student at USC. Ironically, Ohio State will play USC on Trojan Family Weekend.

“I would do it, but I would not do what I did with the first pitch just walk out there all arrogant with my damn Christian Louboutins on sliding on the mound,” Smith admitted. “No, I would actually practice for this cause I’ve never kicked a field goal in my life. If they asked me to do it, I would do it, but I’d have to have some training. I can’t kick my leg that damn high.”

Smith may have just unintentionally put some pressure on McAfee, however. Because last December, McAfee subtly hinted at the possibility that his kicking contest would not return to GameDay this season. As Awful Announcing recently detailed, it may have just been part of future negotiations with ESPN, considering McAfee funds the contest himself.

McAfee has not confirmed whether the contest will return this season, but Smith seems to expect it. And assuming the contest does return, McAfee might as well let Smith try a kick for charity.