ESPN personality Pat McAfee criticized the University of Utah for a social media post that he found unsettling. The post appeared on the university’s Instagram account shortly before the “College GameDay” broadcast in Salt Lake City. It featured students impersonating McAfee, with some comments labeling him “corny” and “creepy.” This content was later removed from social media.
McAfee, a former NFL punter, shared his displeasure on “The Pat McAfee Show.” He indicated he would not have been bothered if students made such remarks independently. However, he took issue with the university promoting these comments as he prepared to face a large audience at their event.
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 mentioned the memory of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s shooting at Utah Valley University in September 2025, questioning if similar incidents warranted amplifying negativity towards him.
The University of Utah apologized via Instagram, stating their intention was to engage McAfee’s return lightheartedly, but they acknowledged the effort failed. They took full responsibility for the content oversight and reached out to McAfee to apologize. The university reassured him and the “College GameDay” team of their warm welcome, noting their positive history with the ESPN crew.
McAfee also voiced irritation over a student contestant’s disappointment with a contest prize. The student participating in the “Kicking Is Easy” contest questioned the $1 million prize, given a previous prize reached $3 million. McAfee expressed his frustration, humorously suggesting he might avoid future visits to the campus.
Despite these issues, he praised Utah’s football team and commended the student section for their enthusiasm. The event concluded successfully with a large turnout from fans, and Utah won the game against Houston, 21-13.