(Omaha, NE) – Every June, thousands of college baseball fans descend on Omaha for the Men’s College World Series. They’re there to watch baseball, sure. But over the last several years, another competition has become almost as famous as the games themselves. A competition that felt anti-climactic in 2026 without the return of the shot record champions, LSU.
It’s called the Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge.
What started as a fun promotion at Rocco’s Pizza & Cantina in Omaha has turned into one of the most talked-about traditions in college sports. Fan bases compete to see who can purchase the most Jello shots during the College World Series, and the numbers have gotten absolutely ridiculous. What began with hundreds of shots has exploded into tens of thousands, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable donations along the way.
The challenge has become such a phenomenon that fan bases organize social media campaigns, businesses sponsor purchases, and alumni groups coordinate meetups around the event. In some cases, schools have spent more time leading the Jello Shot Challenge than they have leading games on the field. I have a neighbor who most likely worked at Rocco’s given the number of shots he passes around at house parties, but that’s a story for another day.
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And while the challenge is all about bragging rights, it also serves a bigger purpose. A portion of every shot sold is donated to food banks and charitable organizations connected to participating schools and the Omaha community. Over the years, the event has generated significant donations while becoming one of the most unique traditions in college athletics.
These days, making the College World Series isn’t enough for some fan bases. They want the national championship and the Jello Shot Challenge trophy.
The History of the Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge
The challenge officially launched in its current format in 2019 and quickly became a favorite among College World Series fans. Early winners measured their success in hundreds or a few thousand shots. Then LSU showed up…