What happens when you mix a massive crowd, a $250k prize, and a student with everything to prove? Nothing but absolute chaos—and yeah, maybe a little comedy. And that’s what happened when Pat McAfee, the NFL-turned-media star, and leader of Frat Bros, brought his signature energy to College GameDay with his iconic field goal challenge. But this time, an American service cadet’s kick went sideways. That kick nearly sent an Aggies star to the ER. Well, how did we even get there?

The Week 14’s College GameDay in College Station was electric—the first Texas-Texas A&M showdown since 2011, had everyone hyped to their core. As usual, McAfee raised the bar and stakes, offering $250k to any student brave enough to nail a 33-yard field goal. Enter Payne Barksdale, an Air Force Academy senior rocking his helmet and ready to make history.

McAfee is never one to shy away from a little pre-kick banter. Kirk Herbstreit quipped, “You sure you want to wear your hat for this?” The crowd was literally going crazy. Dude Perfect’s Tyler Toney chimed in with some pro-level hyping, and Payne had the perfect setup, not gonna lie. Moments earlier, Toney, being Toney, had casually drilled a kick through the uprights, proving it was doable. But when it came to Payne’s lights to shine, let’s just say the aim didn’t match the hype.

The crowd was rooting their hearts out for the Air Force Cadet. As Payne swung his leg and sent the ball flying disaster struck. Instead of blasting the kick straight through the uprights, the dude drilled a fan sitting to his left. The crowd’s gasp turned into uproarious laughter as McAfee, never missing a beat, screamed, “He sniped the kid!He sniped the kid!… He almost killed a guy!” Kirk Herbstreit suggested one more try, but boy, Payne rocketed the ball left side of the post and missed $250k by a few inches. Upsetted, Pat McAfee really wanted him to make a bag, and chimed in, “Hey, thank you for your service to America. Later, brother.”

Other notable “Pat McAfee’s kicking contest”

Pay McAfee’s field goal challenges have become as much a College GameDay tradition as the wild signs and mascot heads. Arguably the best pre-game tradition in College Football right now. And while Payne Barksdale might’ve set a record for the most accidental carnage, a few challengers have actually delivered under pressure.

At the University of Georgia, a local Hoosier, Indiana native, Henry Silver bagged $200k+$200k and an additional 400k for Hurricane relief donation in McAfee’s “Kicking is Easy” challenge. This one had Patt McAfee in emotional. Likewise, the Cal nerd Villasenõr had a heart-stopper moment. He missed his first attempt, but McAfee, being the ultimate hype man, offered him a second shot. Oh, and upped the prize by $100,000, making it a $500K attempt to aid Hurricane Helene relief. The second time? Money.

Even NFL stars aren’t immune to McAfee’s antics and banter. Philly’s very own Jason Kelce took on the challenge at Penn State, admitting he wasn’t too confident in his own kicking skills. But hey, stepping up in front of a crowd like that takes guts. Miss both attempts.

Pat McAfee has turned College GameDay into a must-watch TV, blending competition, chaos, and just the right amount of trash talk. Payne Barksdale’s misfire might not have won him $250,000, but it definitely earned him a viral moment—and a lesson in keeping your head down when the stakes are high. Whether it’s a perfect field goal or a ball-turned-projectile, one thing’s for sure: no one walks away without a story.