1 / 4

BYU freshman Carter Smith is thrown into the air after making a $3 million kick during ESPN College GameDay Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Provo.

Courtesy BYU Photo

2 / 4

ESPN's College GameDay take place on Brigham Young University's campus Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Provo.

Courtesy BYU

3 / 4

Steve Young participates in ESPN 's College GameDay Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Provo.

Courtesy BYU

4 / 4

ESPN's College GameDay take place on Brigham Young University's campus Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Provo.

Courtesy BYU

❮ ❯

The college football world descended upon Provo this weekend for the BYU and Notre Dame football game, and the Cougars fanbase responded in kind.

The west lawn of Heritage Halls transformed into a mini-village of students who set up shop for ESPN’s production of College GameDay live on campus Saturday morning.

Late Friday night, those aiming to enter “The Pit,” a fenced-off section of 500 students directly behind the GameDay stage, sat in a line that went for several hundred yards, fortifying themselves with blankets and occupying their time with homework or a livestream of the BYU exhibition basketball game. A sleepless night led to a morning of pandemonium, fueled by a GameDay panel that knew its audience.

Pat McAfee, a former NFL kicker and outspoken sports media figure with a knack for playing to the crowd, addressed the audience as his “brothers and sisters,” pulled out a mini Book of Mormon and quoted Nephi.

Picking the winner for the night’s matchup, 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard and former Alabama coach Nick Saban went with the safe, and ultimately incorrect choice of Notre Dame, a 10.5-point favorite. McAfee, however, sided with guest panelist and Hall of Famer Steve Young and a rowdy crowd.

“Maybe it was the Book of Mormon I read earlier. But it’s the air, maybe it’s the tie. I’m gonna let you know, Brother Pat is riding with the Mormons,” McAfee declared.

Perhaps it was the spirit McAfee felt in the air that led to his generosity during the most-anticipated event of the pregame show: a kick for a million dollars. After the student drawn in a raffle was turned down because he did not have his ID on him, fate turned to Carter Smith, a BYU freshman wearing a Spider-Man suit.

McAfee offered $1 million for the kick, then, submitting to the peer pressure of the retired kicker, Utah Jazz and Mammoth owner and Provo native Ryan Smith and his business partner, Notre Dame graduate Ryan Sweeney, kicked in an additional $1 million each. If Carter Smith made it, he would pocket $ 2 million while the other million went to charity.

His first kick went wide, eliciting begging from the crowd for another chance. On the mulligan, he booted a left-footed spiral through the uprights, and celebrated with the BYU cheer squad, which tossed him into the air.

“Full pandemonium!” McAfee said. “Carter’s getting carried out of here like he’s Rudy.”

It had been 17 years since College GameDay had visited Provo in 2009 for a Mountain West showdown against TCU.

Many fans remembered where they were for that game, and were pleased to see ESPN return. That included Carter Jones, an Eagle Mountain resident who said he was eight years old when his dad flew out for the 2009 game and he stayed home.

“I always wanted to go to the GameDay experience in Provo one day and this was finally our chance,” he said. “So I wasn’t gonna miss it.”

With BYU’s recent success, its arrival in the Big 12 Conference and back-to-back 11-win seasons, Jones believes BYU has a lot to offer the college sports landscape.

“I think it’s a new story,” he said. “People like to hear new things, and seeing a team that hasn’t been in the playoffs historically or hasn’t had all the success recently, it’s fun to see somebody new get to host GameDay or get to have this attention. It’s fun.” 

And in turn, some believe it can lead to exposure for Provo and Utah County. The ESPN panel made numerous remarks about the Wasatch Mountains towering in the background.

A Notre Dame fan, Jason, traveled with his son from out of state for game and was staying with a former colleague who lives in Utah County. He and his son spent Friday and Saturday in Provo, and had plans to visit Park City Sunday.

He enjoyed the GameDay experience, in spite of the cold, and said he thought the success of BYU football could attract visitors to Utah County.

“Absolutely,” he said. “This is a great, great place and a beautiful part of the country.”