Pat McAfee Says He Felt Uncomfortable During College GameDay Visit to Utah

ESPN analyst Pat McAfee stated on his Monday program that he felt deeply uncomfortable during his recent trip to the University of Utah for the network's "College GameDay" broadcast. McAfee voiced his grievances following Saturday morning's live show in Salt Lake City, which preceded the Utes' matchup against Houston.

The primary source of McAfee's frustration stemmed from a video posted on the university's official Instagram account shortly before the broadcast. The clip featured students performing impressions of the former NFL punter, with one student calling him "corny" and another describing him as "creepy." McAfee noted that while he is accustomed to individual criticism online, he was bothered that an institutional account chose to amplify negative characterizations of him immediately before he was set to promote the campus.

"If these kids would have done this on their own vlogs, all good," McAfee said on his show. "The university puts that out? Like, as I'm about to go out and do an infomercial for the place? And then I'm walking in front of thousands of these people. This is how the university feels about it. It's an uncomfortable feeling."

McAfee explained that the timing of the post heightened his unease, pointing back to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in September 2025. He questioned the wisdom of an institution highlighting reasons for individuals to dislike him given recent events in the state.

Another moment that added to his frustration occurred during his popular "Kicking Is Easy" segment, where a student attempts a field goal for a $1 million prize. Morgan Boring, a chemical engineering major selected for the contest, referenced the previous week's broadcast at Brigham Young University—where a student walked away with $3 million after matching prizes—and asked if the prize was "only $1 million."

"And then obviously the kicker goes, 'Only $1 million?' It's my money!" McAfee recounted, adding that the remark contributed to his negative perception of the morning. Boring ultimately missed her field goal attempt during the segment.

Despite his criticism of the university's social media team and the on-air interaction, McAfee praised the overall atmosphere, acknowledging the strength of the university's football program and the energy of the student section. Nevertheless, he concluded that he hopes to avoid returning to the campus in the future.

The University of Utah has not yet issued a public response to McAfee's comments regarding the broadcast and the deleted social media post.