Pat Mcafee Faces Backlash After Calling Utah Gameday Visit Uncomfortable
WHO:
Los Angeles Times - ESPN said it supported McAfee and takes safety concerns seriously, citing threats faced by members of its on-air team.
The Salt Lake Tribune - The University of Utah said its staff is responsible for reviewing and posting content on official social media accounts and that it takes full accountability for the post.
Pro Football Network - Pat McAfee is a host of ESPN’s *College GameDay*.
Pro Football Network - The article says McAfee referred to Charlie Kirk.
Sportskeeda - NFL fans criticized McAfee, calling him “fragile” and posting, “Absolute loser. Dude cannot take any criticism.”
Pro Football Network - The article describes backlash from the college football world.
WHAT:
Los Angeles Times - The Utah video also showed students saying they were fans of McAfee but wanted him to stop taking off his shirt during his weekly *College GameDay* routine.
Los Angeles Times - The Athletic had published a column describing *College GameDay* as overwhelmed by McAfee’s “frat-rock prankster” personality.
Bleacher Report - The University of Utah said officials reached out to McAfee to “sincerely apologize” for the social media video.
Bleacher Report - The *College GameDay* broadcast from Salt Lake City was the show’s first there since November 2025, when it covered a Cincinnati-Utah matchup.
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee said, “I think I hate this place,” as he walked onto the *College GameDay* set, and described the Utah visit as an experience he had “never experienced really in my entire life.”
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee said he had “enjoyed this college football season” but “did not enjoy the University of Utah.”
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee said the university’s post was “just weird” and that he had not experienced anything like it in his life.
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee said he “couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there” and joked, “I think I have COVID or something whenever ‘GameDay’ goes back if I’m still a part of ‘GameDay.’”
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee said he was annoyed that the Utah student in the kicking contest questioned the prize amount.
KUTV - McAfee said he was walking in front of thousands of people after seeing the university’s post.
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee said he had “never experienced” a university posting content criticizing him immediately before he addressed a crowd, and that the post “kind of set me off a little bit.”
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee said he had not investigated who controlled the university’s Instagram account.
KUTV - McAfee said he had “never been more uncomfortable” walking in front of a group of people after seeing the post.
KUTV - The Utah student’s kicking-contest prize was $1 million, compared with the $3 million won by a BYU student.
KUTV - McAfee praised Utah’s football team and student section despite saying he did not enjoy the morning.
KUTV - The University of Utah said ESPN’s *College GameDay* had visited its campus seven times and that it had previously enjoyed a “terrific relationship and positive experiences” with the crew.
The Salt Lake Tribune - The University of Utah said it intended the Instagram video to create “lighthearted engagement” but “missed the mark,” and apologized for creating any perception that McAfee was unsafe or unwelcome.
The Salt Lake Tribune - The university said officials had contacted McAfee to express appreciation and regret; it said McAfee and the *College GameDay* crew were welcome on campus.
The Salt Lake Tribune - The Instagram post showed students calling McAfee “corny” and “creepy”; the post was later deleted.
The Salt Lake Tribune - During a “Kicking is Easy” contest, a Utah student asked why the kick was not worth more, saying, “The BYU guy got $3 million,” before attempting and missing a kick for $1 million.
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee said he hoped never to return to Utah and referenced a possible *GameDay* visit to the BYU-Utah game on Nov. 7.
Pro Football Network - McAfee said Utah’s Instagram video made him uncomfortable.
Sportskeeda - The article reports that McAfee labeled his Utah visit “uncomfortable.”
Pro Football Network - The article says McAfee’s comments and Charlie Kirk reference sparked backlash.
Pro Football Network - Critics reacted with comments including “So Unbelievably Soft” and “ESPN Is Paying Pat McAfee $30 Million to Complain.”
Sportskeeda - The article describes McAfee as an ESPN host known for his colorful personality.
WHERE:
Los Angeles Times - The Charlie Kirk shooting occurred during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee referenced the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
KUTV - *College GameDay* visited Utah’s campus for the Utes’ matchup against Houston.
KUTV - The university’s social media post appeared shortly before McAfee went on air; he said he saw it before appearing on *College GameDay*.
KUTV - McAfee referenced a deadly incident at Utah Valley University, 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Pro Football Network - The reported visit was to Utah.
Sportskeeda - The article identifies the visit as McAfee’s latest visit.
WHY:
KUTV - McAfee objected to what he called the university “gaslighting some of it” before he spoke about the school, and connected his discomfort to the fatal incident at Utah Valley University.
The Salt Lake Tribune - McAfee said the university’s post made him feel uncomfortable because he saw it just before going in front of a crowd, after which he felt he was getting “a lot of shrapnel from a lot of places.”
Pro Football Network - McAfee explained why Utah’s Instagram video made him uncomfortable, but the provided article text does not give the explanation.
Sportskeeda - The provided article text says McAfee did not enjoy the visit but does not specify why.
ESPN says it supports Pat McAfee and takes safety concerns seriously after a University of Utah social media video criticizing the *College GameDay* host prompted a dispute. The university apologized, said the post was meant to be lighthearted but missed the mark, and accepted full responsibility; the deleted video showed students calling McAfee “corny” and “creepy,” while others asked him to stop taking off his shirt during the show. McAfee said the post made him uncomfortable before he went on air in Salt Lake City, criticized the university’s handling of it and referred to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, drawing further backlash from college football fans.