Pat McAfee’s iconic kicking competition is a beloved part of the College GameDay broadcast every week, as one student gets the chance to kick a 33-yard field goal for a considerable cash prize. With the show being hosted on Vanderbilt’s campus on Saturday, Oct. 25, one Vanderbilt student knew that they would get a shot to nail the kick and celebrate with sports celebrities Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit and others.
Vanderbilt student Tyler Hwang was the lucky winner selected for the kick, winning the raffle that consists of the first 300 students to arrive at College GameDay. The sophomore nailed the 33-yard field goal with ease, earning $500,000 for himself as well as winning $250,000 for charity.
Hwang, a chemical engineering and economics double major, stated he had prior experience with kicking footballs on the broadcast, even hitting a few in his senior year of high school. Both Kirk Herbstreit and McAfee agreed that Hwang delivered one of the best kicks the cast of College GameDay has ever seen, with Herbstreit even saying it would’ve been good from 50 yards.
“I’ve done it a few times before, [so] knew I could do [it],” Hwang told The Hustler. “Same as every old kick. Didn’t process what was going on in the moment until after it was all done. Honestly, just super grateful for the opportunity.”
Hwang’s celebration certainly garnered some attention as well. He jumped around the set, high-fiving his fellow students and chest-bumping with McAfee at the end. He even hit a golf swing pose right after knocking the ball through the uprights. Herbstreit was the place holder while GameDay personality Steve Coughlin signaled whether the kick was good. Along with McAfee, former Vanderbilt student-athlete Sarah Fuller was also there to cheer him on.
“It was just amazing,” Hwang said. “Just seeing the stuff that Vanderbilt Football is coming together to do is just awesome.”
Hwang has only ever made one field goal in a live game but has hit from 50+ in practice. He certainly relied on that experience to deliver a memorable moment for himself and the thousands of fans crowding around the set.
