College GameDay returned to Salt Lake City for the second straight week, giving No. 10 Utah another turn in the national spotlight ahead of its matchup with No. 14 Houston.
For students at the University of Utah, the show was more than just another Saturday morning broadcast. It also meant a chance to compete for a million-dollar kick, which helped explain why students spent days camping out to secure a spot.
That scene followed a memorable weekend in Provo, where a BYU student made the kick in two tries during College GameDay. Pat McAfee handed over $1 million after the attempt, and Ryan Smith and Ryan Sweeney each added $1 million as well.
This week, the interest shifted from Provo to Salt Lake City, but the motivation was the same: get close to the action and take a shot at a life-changing kick. Hunter Perrero, a University of Utah junior, said he expects to make the attempt in one try.
“It took him two tries. When I get the option tonight, it's going to take me one try, and I'll put it through the uprights,” Perrero said.
Nick Tripp said the campout also brought students together in a way that made the wait feel worthwhile. “It's a community. I didn't know these guys until five minutes ago. We just started talking, but these guys are awesome. They started hanging out. That's the type of people our school and community brings,” Tripp said.
Perrero also described just how much preparation went into the overnight effort. “We haven't slept in at least three days preparing for this. So, we're ready to stay awake and stay warm,” he said.
The result is a familiar College GameDay setup with a different backdrop: Utah and Houston as a top-15 matchup, national television attention in Salt Lake City, and a crowd hoping the next million-dollar kick lands on the first try.
