Two Penn State students are going home with $150,000 each after one of them made a 33-yard field goal on the set of ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday morning on the lawn of Old Main.
Carson Albright, an architectural engineering major, nailed the field goal, which was held by ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, to win the money for himself and another student, William.
“I can’t speak,” Albright told the Centre Daily Times. “I’m so thankful that Will picked me. ... I have no words. (The money) is going straight to school. It’s awesome.”
William initially won the lottery to attempt the kick as part of College GameDay’s weekly Field Goal Kicking Challenge segment, but asked around for help because he didn’t believe he could make it himself. Albright’s soccer background — he played in high school at Spring Grove in Pennsylvania — made him the choice for William, a finance major. The former soccer player is a freshman at Penn State and amassed at least 50 career goals in high school.
The two agreed to split the money, which was announced to be $300,000 by ESPN personality Pat McAfee just before the kick. Albright was given only one kick to make the field goal, and put it straight through the uprights on his try. It might’ve been good another 10 yards out.
“That’s the best kick we ever had,” McAfee said later in the show.
From left to right, College GameDay analysts Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit and Steve Coughlin “Stanford Steve” hand an oversized check to William and Carson Albright during Saturday morning’s Field Goal Kicking Challenge segment on the set of College GameDay at Penn State. Allen Kee ESPN Images
Penn State student Carson Albright, right, and fellow student William react Saturday morning during the Field Goal Kicking Challenge segment on the set of College GameDay at Penn State. Allen Kee ESPN Images
Penn State student Carson Albright, right, and fellow student William react Saturday morning after Albright nailed a 33-yard field goal to win them each $150,000, or 300K total, during the Field Goal Kicking Challenge segment on the set of College GameDay at Penn State. Allen Kee ESPN Images
College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit holds the ball for Penn State student Carson Albright, while Pat McAfee looks on, Saturday morning during the Field Goal Kicking Challenge segment on the set of College GameDay at Penn State. Allen Kee ESPN Images
College GameDay analysts Kirk Herbstreit and Pat McAfee watch as Carson Albright’s 33-yard field goal is good to earn him and fellow student William $300,000 total, or $150,000 each, on Saturday morning during the Field Goal Kicking Challenge segment on the set of College GameDay at Penn State. Allen Kee ESPN Images
Penn State student Carson Albright points straight ahead while fellow student William looks on Saturday morning during the Field Goal Kicking Challenge segment on the set of College GameDay at Penn State. Albright nailed a 33-yard field goal to win $300,000. Allen Kee ESPN Images
Penn State student Carson Albright is congratulated by friends after kicking a 33-yard field goal on ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 11:58 AM.
Jon Sauber covers Penn State football and men’s basketball for the Centre Daily Times. He earned his B.A. in digital and print journalism from Penn State and his M.A. in sports journalism from IUPUI. His previous stops include jobs at The Indianapolis Star, the NCAA, and Rivals.
