Two Utah students split the cash prize after making a field goal in Pat McAfee’s kicking challenge.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jonah Knubel celebrates his field goal in Pat McAfee’s Kicking Contest during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Utah students Jonah Knubel and Garrett Morris were just two strangers wearing red early Saturday morning.
By 9 a.m., the two were each $125,000 richer, after Knubel made a 33-yard field goal to win Pat McAfee’s “Kicking is Easy Contest” on ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
Both Morris and Knubel skipped their Halloween festivities to camp out for the early morning gameday antics, making them both eligible for McAfee’s field goal contest, where the former NFL punter gives away a large amount of money to a random student if they can make the difficult kick.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jonah Knubel in Pat McAfee’s Kicking Contest during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
But when Morris’ ticket was called, one thought ran through his head: “I can’t kick. I climb rocks.”
“I was never gonna kick it. Not in a million years,” Morris said.
“My buddy was just yelling my name, and I look over, and this guy,” Morris said, pointing to Knubel, “this guy is clearly a kicker.” Morris’ hunch was right.
Knubel — to McAfee’s dismay — was an all-region kicker at Sandy, Utah’s Jordan High School four years ago. Knubel’s stats weren’t great — 3 for 5 in only one year — but he had experience, which was more than some previous contestants could say. His lone reason for coming to the event was “for this kick.”
The two struck a deal to split the cash prize 50/50 if Knubel made the kick.
When the two walked out, McAfee did his usual banter and hyped up the Utah faithful along the way.
The offer started as a $250,000 reward from McAfee, but he eventually talked himself up to giving away $1 million — $750,000 to the contestants and $250,000 to a local charity.
Knubel lined up for the kick, and shanked it wide right, missing out on a life-changing payout.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jonah Knubel celebrates his field goal in Pat McAfee’s Kicking Contest during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Garrett Morris celebrates during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. At left is Jonah Knubel.
But as is typical in this contest, when students miss the first attempt, fans chanted “one more kick,” and Morris and Knubel pleaded for another shot. McAfee reluctantly agreed, but lowered the reward to $125,000 each and maintained his $250,000 donation to charity.
On the second attempt, Knubel sent it over the right goal post, leaving people speculating on whether or not it was inside or outside. Upon further review, the crew decided that it was a successful attempt.
Knubel and Morris hugged and ran up and down the short, make-shift field, high-fiving the hundreds of fans watching. The Utah marching band erupted in the Utes’ fight song, “Utah Man.” It was a jubilant scene at the University of Utah’s President’s Circle.
“At first, I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I blew it,’” Knubel said about missing his first kick. “I’m really thankful to Pat that he gave me a second chance. After the first one, the nerves were kind of gone, and I was like, ‘I just got to rip it,’ and I did.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Garrett Morris celebrates during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Morris and Knubel kept good on their deal to split the money, and were seen after the contest holding a giant check with their grand totals written on it.
The two seniors, Morris, who studies accounting, and Knubel, who studies finance, will now get a very helpful financial boost as they enter post-graduate life following the school year.
“I had plans beforehand,” Knubel said about his plans for spending his cash prize. “Now that it’s happened, I don’t know. It will probably go towards a down payment on a house or some smart investment. I’m definitely not going to just go blow it on something.”
Both Morris and Knubel said they would be in attendance for No. 24 Utah’s pivotal Big 12 matchup against No. 17 Cincinnati late Saturday night, with a little bit more money in their pockets than there was 12 hours earlier.
