Pat McAfee criticizes University of Utah after awkward GameDay visit

Pat McAfee said he did not enjoy his visit to the University of Utah on Saturday, citing a social media post mocking his appearance and an awkward exchange during a field goal contest. The comments came during Monday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” two days after ESPN broadcast “College GameDay” from the Salt Lake Valley ahead of Utah’s football game against Houston.

The primary source of McAfee’s frustration was an Instagram video posted by the university’s official account. The clip featured students making impressions of the former NFL punter, with one describing him as “corny” and another calling him “creepy.” McAfee stated that he was fine with students posting on their personal accounts, but he was bothered by the video appearing on the university’s channel shortly before he was scheduled to promote the school to a national audience.

“The university puts that out? Like, as I’m about to go out and do an infomercial for the place?” McAfee said. The university has since deleted the post. In a statement, the school acknowledged that the content missed the mark, saying its goal was to create “lighthearted engagement” regarding McAfee’s return to campus. University officials said staff are responsible for reviewing and publishing content on official accounts and that they reached out to McAfee to express their appreciation and regret.

A second point of contention occurred during the “Kicking is Easy” segment, where a fan attempts a field goal for a $1 million prize. Utah student Morgan Boring, a chemical engineering major, was selected for the contest. Before her attempt, she noted that a BYU student had won $3 million the previous week in Provo. Boring asked, “Wait, wait, wait, the BYU guy got $3 million?” McAfee appeared annoyed by the question, noting that he could have offered her only $20 instead. Boring missed the kick.

The timing of the social media post also intersected with recent local events. McAfee referenced the killing of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in September 2025. He said the university’s actions felt particularly uncomfortable given that incident, which occurred in the state less than a year earlier. While the Instagram post did not contain a threat of physical violence, McAfee said the combination of the video and the context made walking out in front of the crowd feel awkward.

Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal noted that it is unusual for a university account to critique a broadcast partner, especially one that brings significant national publicity. However, Karp observed that the video originated from a student group, which may not have considered the relationship between ESPN and the Big 12. Karp also cautioned that McAfee is known to be sensitive to such interactions, suggesting his reaction might be amplified by his personal brand.

The contrast with the previous week’s “GameDay” episode at BYU was stark. That broadcast, aired for the BYU Cougars’ game against Notre Dame, averaged 3 million viewers, making it the third-most-watched in the show’s history. A BYU student, Carter Smith, won the field goal contest that week, receiving $3 million after local business owners matched the prize money. The positive outcome in Provo highlighted the difference in tone between the two Utah campus visits.

McAfee acknowledged that the University of Utah has a strong student section and a good football team. He described the Saturday broadcast as phenomenal and praised the atmosphere. However, he made clear that he views the experience differently from the BYU visit. He joked that he might have COVID-19 the next time “College GameDay” returns to the campus, assuming he is still part of the show. For now, he said he hopes he never has to go back to the place.