Published by Paul Ivinskas
Saturday, October 24, 2026

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Sports

BYU freshman who won $2 million on College GameDay is still going to class

The kicker expects to keep about $1.3 million after taxes, and he is still waiting for the check from ESPN.

Published Mountain Time
Source / event date: Original report: October 24, 2026

Based on reporting by The Salt Lake Tribune. Read the original story →

Provo

Carter Smith, the BYU freshman who made a field goal on ESPN's "College GameDay" set in Provo on Oct. 17, says life has changed little in the week since, and he is still taking midterms and chemistry, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. [1]

Smith kicked the field goal in a Spider-Man costume during Pat McAfee's "Kicking is Easy" segment, which pays $1 million to a college student who makes a kick. Utah Jazz owners Ryan Smith and Ryan Sweeney each added $1 million, bringing the payout to $3 million, with $1 million of Smith's share pledged to charity. [1]

The Tribune reported that estimates put federal and state income tax withholding at about $700,000 of the $2 million. Smith, a pre-dental student, said no one from ESPN or McAfee has presented him a check yet. He said he signed and notarized paperwork, and another winner told him the process took about a month. [1]

Smith said he nearly gave up his spot in line after another student offered him $400 for it. He said he was recognized often in the days after the kick but that the attention has faded. [1]

Sources

  1. The Salt Lake Tribune: He won $2 million on ‘College GameDay.’ Here’s why this BYU freshman is still going to class.

This story was written by AI from the report by The Salt Lake Tribune, which has the full story. How we write stories.

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