Pat McAfee issues $1 million College GameDay challenge to Stephen A. Smith as ESPN host says he’d ‘do it’

College football is back this weekend as the 2026 season finally gets underway.

ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Baton Rouge on September 5 during Week 1 of the 2026 season to cover a clash between Clemson and LSU.

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Pat McAfee joined the ESPN show in 2022, with his field goal kicking challenge, which sees fans win huge sums of money, quickly becoming a tradition.

The field goal contest has become a signature staple of the Saturday morning college football pre-game show, particularly since Lee Corso retired, along with his iconic headgear segment, which McAfee has denied he is going to take over.

Fellow ESPN stalwart Stephen A. Smith is apparently a fan of McAfee’s kicking contest, recently revealing it’s his favorite part of the show.

“There is very little in television that’s funnier than that damn Pat McAfee field goal contest,” Smith said on First Take recently after a College GameDay promo aired.

“It’s hilarious. I don’t know where he finds these; these people can’t kick at all.”

First Take host Courtney Cronin then suggested Smith should put his kicking on display one week, and he seemed willing to give it a go – if he’s afforded time to practice.

Stephen A. Smith shows interest in Pat McAfee’s College GameDay kicking contest

“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.

“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.”

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McAfee caught wind of Smith’s comments and laid down a $1 million challenge.

“I appreciate you @stephenasmith. Let’s see you at a @CollegeGameDay this year,” McAfee wrote on social media.

“$1,000,000 to charity?!?!?”

Smith is yet to respond to McAfee’s challenge, but it may prove too attractive a proposition to turn down.

However, he return of McAfee’s patented kicking segment is still up in the air.

He previously hinted that there was a chance it wouldn’t return for the 2026 season.

After Texas A&M student Austin Roberts missed the $1m kick last season, McAfee said: “It’ll be our final kick of the season, maybe of the entire series.”

He allowed Roberts one more chance, saying: “One more kick. Final kick of the season. Final kick, maybe, of the field goal kicking contest.”

Rece Davis, who hosts the show alongside McAfee, was asked if the kicking contest will return in 2026: “That’s Pat’s domain. You’ll have to ask Pat about that.”

Smith could be the perfect contestant should it return.