UT Vols Student Wins $1 Million In Kicking Challenge Ahead Of President Trump’s Arrival At Neyland Stadium
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It’s officially fall, so it’s officially football season.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Tennessee Volunteers are facing off against the University of Texas Longhorns at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
For both teams, this is their SEC opener, with the Vols at No. 14, and the Longhorns at No. 1.
Kickoff was slated for noon EST, and President Donald Trump‘s attendance in the audience only added to the significance of the game day.
Pumping his fist as he appeared on the Jumbotron at Neyland Stadium, the crowd erupted into applause and cheering at the sight of Trump.
Watch the crowd react to Trump being shown on the Jumbotron at Neyland Stadium, revealing he was seated beside Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, and Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-TN, here:
President Donald Trump has made it to Neyland Stadium. #Vols pic.twitter.com/we4th16ARZ
— Emilie Rae Cochrane (@EmCochranetv) September 26, 2026
When the National Anthem was performed, a patriotic military flyover was conducted, with two F-35 Lightning aircraft and a KC-135 Stratotanker soaring overhead.
See the flyover, here:
Cool moment, Game Day takes a pause mid-show for the National Anthem with a flyover at the end pic.twitter.com/lgAdCyjIA2
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) September 26, 2026
Prior to the National Anthem, Air Force One flew over Neyland Stadium as well, which can be seen here:
QUITE THE FLYOVER AT NEYLAND STADIUM 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/dQM5L6KYzr
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 26, 2026
Ahead of the game, there were plenty of festivities at Neyland Stadium, as ESPN’s College GameDay was on site.
There, a University of Tennessee student made an incredible million-dollar kick.
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University Of Tennessee Student Kicks $1 Million Field Goal On ‘GameDay’
Ahead of kickoff at the Vols vs Longhorns game on Sept. 26, Pat McAfee held his College GameDay “Kicking Is Easy” challenge, offering a student the opportunity to win $1 million.
The catch?
Nail a 33-yard field goal kick.
Joined by Peyton Manning, a student was selected from the crowd at Neyland Stadium.
Colby Lamb, who is a UT Knoxville student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, claimed to have no experience kicking footballs, with Manning vying for him, claiming that Tennesseans do not lie.
Increasing the stakes, McAfee added that a successful kick would also lead to $500,000 going to the Pat Summitt Foundation, which works to further advanced research for a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.
His first kick went too far to the right, but Manning made the case to McAfee that Lamb deserved another attempt.
From there, Lamb proceeded to make a perfect field goal kick, with Manning telling him, “You’ll never pay for another Bud Light your entire time, and every Tri Delt’s going to want your phone number. Good job!”
See the million-dollar kick, here:
Tennessee student Colby Lamb makes his second attempt at the field goal kick for $1.5M on College GameDay.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 26, 2026
Peyton Manning to Lamb afterwards: "You'll never pay for another Bud Light your entire time, and every Tri Delt's going to want your phone number." pic.twitter.com/NS4za1Pytp
Learn more about the Pat Summitt Foundation at its official website, here.
