Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
In 2019, Omaha-based bar Rocco’s launched the now-famous Jello Shot Challenge for fans attending the College World Series.
The challenge saw fans from the eight schools at the tournament competing to see which of them could order the most Jello shots over the course of the one-week event. The challenge quickly became extremely popular and is, by far, the largest moneymaker for the bar throughout the year.
The current record for most Jello Shots ordered is held by the LSU Tigers, who ordered 68,888 shots in 2023. However, the word “ordered” is important here, and it’s why fans are beginning to turn on the once-lovable contest.
Companies Have Ruined The College World Series Jello Shot Challenge
Because it would be almost impossible for Rocco’s to confirm that every Jello Shot they sell is actually taken, the contest is tracked by the number of shots ordered.
That seems reasonable enough. Except, like everything good in the world, it didn’t take long before wealthy business owners found a way to ruin things.
In 2022, Ole Miss fan Tyler Jordan, who just happens to be the son of Realtree founder and CEO Bill Jordan, ordered $20,000 worth of shots for everyone in the bar, with the aim of shattering the record.
Ole Miss did just that one year later, thanks in large part to Raising Cane’s CEO and LSU booster (ironically, a Georgia alum), one-upped Jordan by ordering $30,000 worth of Jello Shots.
This year, Rocco’s switched to using pre-made, boxed Jello Shots, and Ole Miss fans were buying them by the box before the College World Series even started.
What was once a fun challenge now has fans feeling jaded.
I’m sorry to be the one to say it every year but this is what the jello shots are now pic.twitter.com/UtaTqiXVEK
— SEC Baseball (@SECbaseball) June 11, 2026
While the challenge has turned into a fundraiser for local food banks, fans are still upset over what it has become.
“I’m all for selling as many as they can and the donations. But the board should be for the people in the bar that consume them on location. That’s a lot more fun and meaningful,” X user @eddieradostan wrote.
And he’s not the only one to feel that way.
“The money is great for the charity, but I wish the Jello-O shot challenge part would just count the in-person purchases,” said @CollegeBSBNews.
A quick X search shows hundreds of similar posts from college baseball fans. Ultimately, it’s hard to be upset when money is going to a good cause. But it certainly feels like the challenge has lost a good bit of its authenticity.