Pat McAfee turned Alabama’s latest College GameDay kicking segment into another chaotic little show inside the bigger show, and this time the Crimson Tide crowd didn’t cash in.
Alabama fans Sam and Mason were in the spotlight for the Week 6 installment in Tuscaloosa, with McAfee first selecting Sam to handle the attempt before Mason ended up taking the kick instead. That switch didn’t change the outcome. Mason missed twice, leaving more than $500,000 on the table and coming up short on a shot at $1 million.
McAfee leaned into the moment, even adding two dummy blockers in front of the kicker while Kirk Herbstreit handled the hold. After the misses, McAfee still said he’ll donate $500,000 to hurricane relief for the Alabama area. The southern United States are currently facing intense weather conditions from Hurricane Isaias.
The segment has already produced plenty of big-money moments this season, including Tennessee and Texas football fans knocking down their kicks. Week 5’s return to Iowa also brought one of the rougher swings in the history of the contest, with a Hawkeyes fan delivering one of the worst kicks the segment has seen.
McAfee, who has been part of College GameDay’s field goal contest since joining the show, even posted the result with a blunt message: “MASON FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS 💰💰 NO GOOD #CollegeGameDay https://t.co/POXUKK1ExP”
The backdrop for all of it is a heavyweight SEC matchup. Alabama is set to host Georgia in primetime on Saturday, with both teams unbeaten and both sitting inside the top 10 of the latest AP Top 25 poll.
In Other News...
Alabama Could Get A Needed Offensive Boost For Georgia
Alabamas offense may be getting a timely lift just in time for the Georgia game, with tight end Josh Ford expected to be available after missing time with a broken arm and subsequent surgery. Ford practiced during the week, and coach Kalen DeBoer sounded encouraged about where things stood as the Tide worked through their final preparations for one of the biggest matchups on the schedule.
For an Alabama attack that could use every available option against Georgia, Fords presence would add another layer to the game plan and another body defenses have to account for. The injury picture around the SEC is still shifting, with Georgia expecting running back Nate Frazier back from bruised ribs while Chauney Bowens remains out, and other teams dealing with their own uncertainty as Floridas Vernell Brown III and Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre head into the week with bigger questions of their own. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets Its Biggest Chance Yet To Prove It Belongs
Alabamas fast start has turned Saturday in Tuscaloosa into the kind of measuring stick that can tell you plenty about where a team really stands. The Crimson Tide and Georgia arrive unbeaten at 5-0, and with both already looking like serious College Football Playoff factors, this matchup carries the feel of more than just an early-season showcase. Alabama has put together a promising opening stretch and now gets a home chance to back up the idea that it belongs in the national title conversation.
The game should come down to the details that usually decide heavyweight meetings, especially quarterback play and turnover margin. Georgia brings the sort of challenge that has a way of exposing any soft spots, while Alabama is looking for proof that its early momentum can hold up against an opponent built to test every phase. If the Tide can manage the pressure and avoid giving away possessions, it would go a long way toward turning a strong start into something even more convincing. [Read more 🡒]
Roman Harper Turns Kentucky's Latest Snub Into A Huge Statement Game
Roman Harper was not interested in the idea that Kentucky should be pushed aside after stacking up wins early in the season. The former Alabama safety, now an SEC Nation analyst, made it clear he thought the Wildcats had earned more respect after their recent run under coach Will Stein, especially with a 4-1 record that suggests a team trending in the right direction.
LSU is the next chance to make that case in a big way. Kentucky gets No. 10 LSU in a primetime matchup, and Harper pointed to it as the kind of stage that can settle the debate over where the Wildcats belong. For a team that just took a hit in the AP Top 25, the timing could not be better. [Read more 🡒]