Pat McAfee’s future with ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ in question?
Feb 9, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Pat McAfee on the FanDuel set on radio row at the Super Bowl LVII media center at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Pat McAfee said late last season that he will be back with ESPN’s “College GameDay” in 2024, but he still does not have an official deal in place to make sure that happens.
Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that McAfee still has not signed a contract with ESPN to return as a weekly analyst on “College GameDay” this upcoming season. ESPN’s has the rights to “The Pat McAfee Show” and airs the show on its network and YouTube, but that is a separate contract that does not include anything pertaining to McAfee’s role with “GameDay.”
McAfee has been a big part of the “GameDay” broadcast over the past two seasons. He made guest appearances prior to that. The Athletic conducted a survey last October in which almost half of 3,100 respondents indicated they would prefer if McAfee did not remain on “GameDay.” McAfee issued a response to the survey and left his future with the show up in the air.
This has been brought to my attention more than a few times over the last few days.. I’ve never been friends with a human that reads The Athletic so I’m not 100% sure what style of human these 3100 folks are but..
HUGE Shahtaht to the 30%.. hell yeah.
To the 49%, I have some… https://t.co/6830cv5Pmf pic.twitter.com/MCF5daGnFa
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 22, 2023
Then in December, McAfee told ESPN’s Kirk Herbsreit he is not leaving “GameDay.” Herbstreit joked with McAfee that if McAfee leaves, Kirk is going with him.
McAfee has plenty of time to work out an agreement with ESPN before the 2024 college football season begins. It would be a surprise if he does not return to “GameDay,” especially with the exciting new addition the show has made.
