It was recently revealed that Pat McAfee would bring his kicking contest back to College GameDay on ESPN for a fourth season, despite McAfee hinting twice last December that the series could be over for good.
McAfee funded the high-dollar-reward contest all on his own for the first three seasons and handed out more than $6 million. As Awful Announcing’s Sam Neumann explained, “Either a fresh sponsorship agreement covering those costs or a renegotiated financial arrangement folded into McAfee’s rumored $60 million-plus annual ESPN extension emerged as the two most plausible ways to bring the contest back without leaving McAfee personally on the hook for another year of six-figure kicks.”
During Saturday’s season debut of College GameDay at LSU in Baton Rouge, McAfee announced that a sponsorship agreement had indeed emerged. The Home Depot, which has sponsored College GameDay for 24 years, will match the dollar amount that he pays out for the entire 2026 season.
Additionally, the 33-yard kicking contest has officially rebranded as “Pat McAfee’s ‘Kicking is Easy’ contest” on College GameDay. The contest had been loosely referred to as that in the past, but now it’s also listed that way on the ESPN graphic.
Home Depot has said they will match anything that I put up for the entire season..
LET’S START THIS SEASON BRUCE
THIS KICK IS FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS 💰💰#CollegeGameDay https://t.co/u9yA9YyOXy pic.twitter.com/VnQ3gnYWco
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 5, 2026
“This year, we have a massive update,” McAfee said as kicking contestant Bruce was about to attempt a kick. “A company that has given millions and millions of dollars to college sports said, ‘We want to help you in this whole thing.’ Home Depot has said they will match anything that I put up [for the kicker] for the rest of the season.”
“All year? Wow,” ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit responded before giving applause.
“Yeah. Usually companies don’t do, like, blank checks. Home Depot said, ‘We will match anything you say,'” McAfee explained. “So, on that note, $500,000 from me, $500,000 from Home Depot. One million dollars to start the season, Bruce! Shoutout Home Depot!”
Bruce missed the $1 million kick and got a try at a second kick for $500,000, which he also missed. Just short both times.
TWO CHANCES FOR $1 MILLION AND THEY’RE BOTH JUST SHORT!@PatMcAfeeShow‘s money is safe for this week 💰 pic.twitter.com/8MHMuSGHfg
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 5, 2026
It will be fascinating to see how much money McAfee and The Home Depot give out in 2026.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at Awful Announcing and The Comeback.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@awfulannouncing.com.