Pat McAfee returning to ESPN's College GameDay for 2024
![Sep 16, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Pat McAfee on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports Sep 16, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Pat McAfee on the set of ESPN College GameDay prior to the game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_7896,h_4441,x_0,y_53/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/296/01j3ks601bb5m716wnr5.jpg)
The 2024 college football season is fast approaching, and a boisterous sports media personality will once again be a part of one of the most popular productions in the sport.
Pat McAfee returning to College GameDay for 2024 college football season
On Wednesday, Pat McAfee announce during The Pat McAfee Show that he would be returning to ESPN's College GameDay for the 2024 college football season.
BREAKING: Pat McAfee announces he’ll be returning to College GameDay this upcoming season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2vlozHuJjc
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) July 24, 2024
McAfee, known for his rambunctious personality, has grown into one of the most popular faces in sports media over the past several years. The former Indianapolis Colts' punter made regular appearances on College GameDay in 2019 while also serving as a color analyst for ESPN's Thursday night college football games.
In 2022, he became a full-time member of the GameDay crew and continued that role through the 2023 season. It was unclear whether or not McAfee would be returning to the show this year, as he was in discussions with ESPN regarding his future role with the network.
But now officially, Pat McAfee is back as a part of college football's premier pregame show.
Pat McAfee's time on College GameDay has been controversial
McAfee's presence on GameDay has been polarizing, to say the least. While some enjoy the energy he brings to the show, particularly the crowds in attendance, many college football fans have expressed their displeasure with McAfee's antics and attitude towards the sport as a whole.
Last October, The Athletic polled readers about their feelings on McAfee as a part of College GameDay, with 48.9% responding that they "don't like it." McAfee notably took a shot at the Washington State Cougars last season, a program that happens to have deep ties to GameDay. The opinion held by many college football fans is that McAfee simply doesn't "get" the sport, failing to understand what fans care about and how they want the sport covered.
Needless to say, reactions have been mixed to the news that McAfee is returning to the show this season. But regardless of how anyone feels, he's certain to make headlines this fall.