A Cal student won $100,000 by drilling a 33-yard field goal during Saturday's episode of ESPN College GameDay that aired live from the campus at Berkeley.
Daniel Villasenor, a sophomore civil engineering major, was originally offered the chance by Pat McAfee to win $75K by kicking a 33-yard field goal uphill. Daniel admitted that he was a soccer player when he was younger and had kicked a football before, but never that far. He was wearing grey Vans slip-on shoes and was one of the thousands of students that arrived before midnight to take part in the College GameDay festivities on Saturday.
McAfee got the crowd going by leading some school chants. Kirk Herbstreit was the holder. Unfortunately, Daniel's kick went wide right.
Part I of a wild edition of Pat McAfee's Kicking Contest on College GameDay in Berkeley:
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 5, 2024
Daniel in his Vans slip-ons with a solid kick, just misses for $75,000. ππΊπΈpic.twitter.com/YGMA3nxi1I
However, McAfee offered Daniel a second chance. If he made the second try, he would earn $100K for himself and add $100K to the $500K donation that ESPN College GameDay planned to make for Hurricane Helene relief. Daniel lined up, and kicked the ball right down the middle.
ONE MORE KICK
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 5, 2024
FOR $100,000 π°π°
AND A $600,000 DONATION FOR THE HURRICANE RELIEF
DAMN DANIEL
HE DID IT #CollegeGameDay https://t.co/IEdAEkGq1X pic.twitter.com/2Tncm12OmJ
We're sure that Daniel can put his money to good use, as that should go a long way towards paying his Cal tuition. Congratulations Daniel!
College GameDay produces great live TV week after week. Unfortunately, Lee Corso was under the weather and missed this week's episode. Hopefully he will be back soon.