Vanderbilt's Tyler Hwang Wins $500K on GameDay

Tyler Hwang, a 19-year-old Vanderbilt student double-majoring in chemical engineering and economics, nailed a 33-yard field goal on ESPN’s College GameDay to win $500,000 while host Pat McAfee donated an additional $250,000 to charity, bringing the total to $750,000. Hwang — who played soccer growing up and kicked for his high school team — made the kick nearly barefoot in socks, prompting an enthusiastic crowd reaction. Commentators including Kirk Herbstreit called it possibly the best kick in GameDay history and said it looked good from about 50 yards; Herbstreit held the ball on set and former Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller encouraged Hwang. McAfee celebrated with a chest bump after the successful attempt. The segment aired as College GameDay returned to Vanderbilt for the first time since 2008 following a campus special-teams clinic, and Hwang’s national exposure immediately prompted talk of potential NIL deals or kicking offers from college programs.