Pat McAfee, the outspoken media personality and central figure on the “College GameDay” broadcast, has declared that he has no intention of returning to the University of Utah following a weekend in Salt Lake City that left him feeling targeted and unwelcome. Speaking on his daily program on Monday, McAfee detailed a series of grievances that fundamentally changed his perspective on a campus he had previously enjoyed visiting.
The tension began on Saturday morning before the cameras even started rolling. McAfee pointed to a specific video published by the University of Utah’s official Instagram account—the primary university page, rather than the athletic department’s handle—which featured students critiquing him. In the video, students were shown calling the analyst “corny” and “creepy,” labels that McAfee found particularly stinging given his role in promoting the university to a national audience.
McAfee explained that while he is accustomed to criticism from fans on their private blogs and social media feeds, the endorsement of such insults by the institution itself felt like a professional betrayal. He noted that he was essentially in Salt Lake City to provide an “infomercial” for the university, and walking out in front of thousands of students after the school had amplified those negative sentiments created an “uncomfortable feeling.”
The impact of this frustration was visible to viewers during Saturday’s broadcast. Known for his high-energy, over-the-top segments, McAfee appeared more reserved than usual. During the popular final segment where the crew makes game predictions, McAfee opted for a swift and pointed rationale before picking the Houston Cougars to upset the Utes on their home turf. He told the audience he would pick against the Utah student section “10 times out of 10,” adding that he hoped to never see them again.
McAfee’s discomfort was further exacerbated by concerns for his personal safety and professional boundaries. He mentioned that his mind wandered to previous high-profile incidents in the state, specifically referencing the Charlie Kirk shooting from more than a year ago, as he questioned why the university would choose to “amplify reasons for why people hate my guts.” Additionally, he cited an interaction during the “kicking is easy” segment, where a student reportedly asked for more money, as another factor that contributed to his negative experience.
Despite the friction, McAfee did praise the overall quality of the production and credited the student section for its energy. He also noted a “phenomenal” experience with former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid, whom he lauded for being the only analyst to correctly predict UCF’s upset of BYU.
However, these highlights were not enough to salvage the relationship. Utah has hosted “College GameDay” seven times, including three appearances in the last four seasons, and McAfee had previously been complimentary of the program and the state. That sentiment appears to have evaporated. McAfee concluded by stating that if the show returns to Utah in the future, he might find a reason to be absent, even joking that he would claim to have COVID-19 to avoid a return trip to the university.
