Pat McAfee faced criticism over the weekend for a controversial donation he made to the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital – backlash he himself said was warranted.
And he's pledging to up his donation in response.
The issue began on the Saturday, Oct. 3, episode of "College GameDay," which made just its third trip ever to Iowa City, Iowa for the ranked meeting between undefeated Iowa and Ohio State. As part of the show's programming, McAfee offers prize money to students who can kick a field goal in his "Kicking is Easy" contest.
He took it up another notch on Oct. 3 when he offered not only a $1 million donation to that week's kicker, Finley
Banfig, but also $1 million to the children's hospital. After she initially failed her challenge of kicking a 33-yard field goal, McAfee brought in former Iowa football tight end Dallas Clark to throw a ball through the posts, securing a reduced donation of $150,000 each to Banfig and the hospital.
THIS KICK IS FOR TWO MILLION DOLLARS
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 3, 2026
LET'S GO FINLEY
OH NO #CollegeGameDay https://t.co/EYS3YKvTW2 pic.twitter.com/nZ6PJQmLTS
THIS IS A $300,000 THROW FOR DALLAS CLARK..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 3, 2026
$150,000 TO FINLEY
$150,000 TO THE IOWA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
RIGHT THRU THE UPRIGHTS 👏#CollegeGameDay https://t.co/pOq4pFB4eU pic.twitter.com/OdmZTrA8RH
On Monday, Oct. 5, McAfee said he would up his donation after he was criticized for not simply making the $1 million donation, regardless of the outcome.
Explained McAfee:
"I offer up money for the hospital and for her if she ends up winning. And at first I said $1 million donation, and she doesn't make it, and then she misses it, and then Dallas Clark does it for $150,000," McAfee said. "And a lot of people are coming after me for not doing the donation, and I think those people are pretty right.
"It didn't feel right after I was kind of thinking about it. We'll donate $1 million to that children's hospital. I would like to be a part of help for them."
We will donate one million dollars to the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 5, 2026
We would like to thank that hospital for everything that they do #PMSLive https://t.co/HpOXHRrdW8 pic.twitter.com/NwLJssxynT
McAfee ended his announcement by thanking the hospital for the hospitality it showed over the weekend, as well as for the care it provides its patients.
"We would like to thank that hospital for their hospitality and for what they do. And they need to know how much they empower and help everybody else that comes in contact with them.
"... It was special," McAfee said. "Those kids are awesome. I can't wait to see them again. And I'll see them soon."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pat McAfee donates $1M to Iowa children's hospital after backlash
