Morgan Boring, a female student at the University of Utah, was selected to participate in the ‘Kicking Is Easy’ contest on College Gameday last weekend. Pat McAfee did not appreciate that she questioned the amount of money attached to her 33-yard attempt after the field goal kicker got three times as much at BYU.
He referenced her (nervous) quip during a much larger discussion about his overall negative experience in Salt Lake City.
Although the last few days have not been easy, Boring continues to trust in God. She knows that her ~10-minute appearance on a television show about college football does not define who she is or how she will be remembered!
Pat McAfee is at the center of controversy.
Although it actually dates back to the assassination of Charlie Kirk in September of 2025, we will begin this story in Provo, Utah on October 17. College Gameday was in town for the top-10 matchup between BYU and Notre Dame.
Since 2023, Pat McAfee has wagered a life-changing amount of his own money on a 33-yard field goal. A student at the host university is randomly selected to kick for cash. The amount of money has varied and increased over the years. It is up to $1 million.
McAfee raised the stakes at BYU. Ryan Smith, the billionaire owner of the Utah Jazz, and his longtime business partner Ryan Sweeney were in the crowd. McAfee signed Smith up to contribute $1 million. Smith said that Sweeney would go 50/50. McAfee signed Sweeney up to also contribute $1 million instead. The kick was worth $3 million.
Exactly seven days later, College Gameday was live from the University of Utah. Morgan Boring was selected to kick. She questioned why her kick was worth only $1 million when the BYU student got $3 million. That did not go over well with McAfee, who responded by saying that her kick would be worth only $20.
The amount of money did not matter because she missed. Badly.
McAfee was even gracious enough to give her a second chance. She missed again. Badly.
ONE MORE KICK
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 24, 2026
FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS
BACK TO YOU @ReceDavis #CollegeGameDay https://t.co/j3a1rHwqvg pic.twitter.com/GPPnHrANUM
McAfee mentioned Boring while he picked against the Utes to close out the show. He also mentioned a post on Instagram.
Fast forward to Monday. McAfee spoke about his most recent College Gameday experience while live on his own show. He vowed never to return to the University of Utah and invoked the assassination of Charlie Kirk during a lengthy rant that has since become the talk of the internet. He also made reference to Boring’s request for more money.
The University of Utah responded to the ESPN personality’s public frustration with an apology on Monday night. McAfee later responded to the backlash with an explanation of why he was (and is) so upset. Death threats make him feel uncomfortable. They are not to be taken lightly under any circumstances.
Meanwhile, Boring is still caught in the middle of all this! I cannot imagine that she expected to be involved in national news for something that is mostly unrelated to her field goal attempts.
University of Utah student Morgan Boring responded to the backlash.
Although Morgan Boring was criticized in real time for her cheeky jab at the financial discrepancy in her kick compared to the week prior, the vast majority of people had moved on by Sunday evening. And then Pat McAfee brought it up again on Monday.
I am not here to say that what Boring said on College Gameday was right or wrong. However, I would imagine that she was extremely nervous about her upcoming kick and said something in jest that did not land as she had intended. She is a kind young lady of Mormon faith, an Honors student, and a leader of the Mighty Utah Student Section. Her goal is to one day work as an engineer.
Boring first responded to the online criticism on Sunday morning.
She posted another video on Monday. The comment section was ruthless.
And then McAfee brought her back up during his rant about Charlie Kirk on Monday afternoon. The hateful comments directed at Boring only intensified. She posted a third video about her kick — and the corresponding fallout from McAfee’s frustrations — on Wednesday evening. It was a reminder that God is love.
Need more be said? Credit to Boring for keeping her head held high. She won’t let people on the internet break her spirit.