A mechanical engineering technology competition hosted by Purdue Polytechnic New Albany will receive a national television audience during ESPN's annual broadcasting event for ESPN8, affectionately known as "The Ocho."
ESPN2 will broadcast the 2025 Purdue Polytechnic Pumpkin Chunking competition at 12:30 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, Aug. 9. The network billed the event as the "Pumpkin Sling Championship."
The broadcast is part of the 10th anniversary of "The Ocho," a multi-day programming block across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and the ESPN App. The stunt originated as a reference to the movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, and in the years since ESPN8 has become a beloved home for niche sports. The network has dedicated the 10th-anniversary celebratory weekend to broadcasting unconventional and seldom-seen sporting events.
Purdue Polytechnic New Albany's pumpkin chunking competition challenges students to design, build and operate mechanical trebuchets and catapults. The project requires students to apply engineering physics and manufacturing skills to launch pumpkins as far and as accurately as possible.
The Purdue Polytechnic Pumpkin Sling broadcast joins 23 new events making their debut on "The Ocho" this year. Other events scheduled for the weekend include the World Series of Armwrestling, the World Dog Surfing Championships, and the National Bubble Gum Blowing Championship.
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