Pat McAfee criticizes University of Utah's social media post before College GameDay

Pat McAfee said a video posted on the University of Utah’s Instagram account shortly before his appearance on "College GameDay" in Salt Lake City made him feel unsafe. The video, which invited students to do impressions of McAfee and included remarks describing him as "corny" and "creepy," was later removed.

"The university puts that out, like 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," McAfee said on his radio show. "It’s an uncomfortable feeling."

He also referenced the September 2025 shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, suggesting the post added to a hostile atmosphere.

The university issued an apology on Instagram, stating the post was intended as "lighthearted engagement" about McAfee’s return but "missed the mark." It said staff are accountable for the content and expressed regret for any perception that McAfee was unsafe or unwelcome. The statement added that McAfee and the College GameDay crew are always welcome on campus and highlighted a long-standing positive relationship.

McAfee noted that the university’s official posting, rather than a student blog, was the source of his concern. He also mentioned a separate incident where a student questioned the prize amount in his weekly "Kicking Is Easy" contest, which he said added to his frustration.

Despite the issues, McAfee praised Utah’s football team and its student section, thanking fans for attending the broadcast. Utah defeated Houston 21-13 later that day.