GameDay at Athens is taking a major toll on Pat McAfee and the crew’s pocket. The popular “GameDay Kicking Contest,” which McAfee created, has turned into a fan-favorite segment where fans try to nail a 33-yard field goal for big cash prizes. The catch? McAfee is footing the bill himself. He is dishing out six-figure checks whenever the kicks land. Just this season alone, he’s already given away over $1M. Now, a former Georgia Bulldogs kicker has hit Pat McAfee with a major $1M expense.

It all started when organizers invited American rapper Jelly Roll to kick for a massive $300,000 prize. But when the moment came to kick, he sadly missed, which led to some unexpected drama. After that, in a major turn of events, Roll called upon Georgia’s very own former Bulldogs kicker, Rodrigo Blankenship, to step in and take a shot at the money. But the prize this time? One whole million dollars! Rod’s kick will raise $600,000 for charity, and Ben’s kick will add another $400k to it. And Rod is not the one to miss.

He made the shot right through the stands, snagging the million from the crew’s pocket. Blankenship, aka “Hot Rod,” quickly made a name for himself as a walk-on in 2015. Over his college career, he never missed an extra point, going a perfect 200-for-200. On field goals, he was solid too, hitting 82.5% across 80 made kicks. One unforgettable moment came in the 2018 Rose Bowl, when Rodrigo drilled a record-setting 55-yard field goal that shifted momentum and helped Georgia edge out Oklahoma in a thrilling 54-48 overtime win. He even won the prestigious Lou Groza Award in 2019 for the nation’s top kicker.

How can you imagine a player like Rodrigo missing a friendly shot like that? Despite having a rough patch lately, bouncing between NFL cuts and now kicking in the UFL, Blankenship showed he still has that lethal touch. This kick felt like a chance for Rodrigo to send a message to NFL teams that he’s far from done. But this isn’t the first time Pat has given someone a do-over for a big prize. Take Gabby, a chemical engineering senior at Alabama, for example. She stepped up for a $500,000 kick but missed big time, with a lot of boos flying all over.

But instead of simply walking away empty-handed, Pat, along with Kirk Herbstreit’s magic throw, gave her a second shot. And this time, there was no kicking involved. Herbstreit’s pinpoint throw through the uprights turned that moment around, earning Gabby $300,000 and bringing tears of joy. It was a powerful reminder that GameDay is about heart and community.

Diego Pavia failed to do his part for the charity

Pat McAfee’s challenges are like a never-ending saga. But when all of it is done for charity, no one would back out of it. So this time, it’s Vanderbilt QB, Diego Pavia’s time to take up a bet. Pavia was prepping for a major SEC showdown against the Tigers. As of now, Pavia has racked up a solid 1409 yards with 14 TDs. His pass completion rate stands at 65%.

Keeping all that in mind, McAfee issues the challenge, saying, “If you hit the crossbar from the 10-yard line, I will donate $100,000 to a charity of your choice.” Pavia, on the other hand, never one to shy away from a challenge, took it up a notch. “How about $200,000 from the 20-yard line? Pavia said. The deal was locked, as Pavia, who was already warming up for the LSU game, took position on the 20-yard line.

Keeping in mind Diego’s confidence, he missed the shot. “We couldn’t see it, Diego. Was it deep?” McAfee asked him. “No, it didn’t hit. It was a little deep,” Diego said. But will this failure affect his game against the Tigers? As of now, in the first quarter, the Commodores have a 7-3 lead over LSU. Pavia completed all 3 out of 3 passes for 38 yards. No bad, sure. But the result will be a defining factor.