Meet the BYU student who won $3 million for kicking a field goal at ‘College GameDay’

· Yahoo Sports

Carter Smith celebrates with BYU fans after winning $3 million from a made field goal at "College GameDay" in Provo on Oct. 17, 2026. | BYU Photo

The improbable hero of Saturday’s “College GameDay” broadcast at BYU wore a Spider-Man suit and boasted a super-powered left foot.

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Now he’s a millionaire.

BYU freshman Carter Smith, originally from Honey Creek, Iowa, was selected for Pat McAfee’s “Kicking is easy” competition at “GameDay,” where making a 33-yard field goal results in a prize of $1 million.

But the stakes were even higher at the Heritage Halls lawn, as Utah Jazz and Mammoth owner Ryan Smith and his business partner Ryan Sweeney threw in another $1 million to win along with a $1 million donation to charity.

Carter did play football and soccer in high school, but his first kicking attempt hooked wide right.

However, at the insistence of the crowd, McAfee showed mercy and offered Carter another chance to kick.

Carter wouldn’t be denied on round two, booting the ball through the uprights and being mobbed by his fellow BYU fans in celebration.

“I didn’t really know what to expect, so we just kicked it and hoped for the best,” Carter told reporters afterward. “I said a prayer right before ... God works in mysterious ways.”

The fact Carter was even selected for the kick was a miracle on its own. Fans could enter a raffle to win the opportunity to kick, and the original winner was disqualified after failing to provide identification, thus allowing Carter’s ticket number to be called and ultimately earn the memory — and payday — of a lifetime.

Carter’s first purchase with his newfound dough?

“401K!” he said.

Sounds like he’s just as fiscally responsible as his left foot is clutch.

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