Former Iowa Prep Athlete Turns GameDay Kick Into $3 Million Payday
Carter Smith, a former Underwood High School football and soccer player now attending BYU, got a chance to attempt a field goal on ESPN's College GameDay. After an initial miss in bulky borrowed shoes, he removed his footwear and converted a 33-yard kick to claim a $3 million prize in Pat McAfee's contest. Smith said his soccer background, including two years in Argentina, provided most of his kicking experience.
Carter Smith, an Underwood High School graduate enrolled at BYU, was in Provo for ESPN’s College GameDay and had camped out with a friend before receiving the ticket that put him in Pat McAfee’s “Kicking is Easy” contest. He wore a Spider-Man costume and first tried in crowd-provided bulky running shoes after arriving in Birkenstocks; that 33-yard attempt went low and right.
On his second try, Smith removed his shoes, slowed his approach and aimed higher and left, converting the kick. His athletic background includes four years of high school football, though he was not a kicker, plus soccer at Underwood and two years playing the sport in Argentina during his mission.
The viral kick could affect college sports fans and students by reinforcing the appeal of fan-participation contests and sponsor-backed spectacle, while giving young athletes a memorable example of transferable soccer skills. It may also influence how broadcasters and sponsors design high-stakes promotions, though the story’s impact is likely cultural and entertainment-focused rather than systemic.