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Pat McAfee cites Charlie Kirk shooting over Utah's social media post

Pat McAfee Hopes Never to Return to University of Utah After Visit

October 27, 202612:05 pmSport

ESPN College GameDay analyst Pat McAfee declared he hopes never to return to the University of Utah following an uncomfortable October 2026 campus visit, where a university Instagram post mocking him and a student’s remark about prize money drew sharp frustration from the former NFL punter.

The trouble began before “College GameDay” broadcast live from Salt Lake City ahead of the Big 12 showdown between the Utah Utes and Houston Cougars on October 24, 2026. Minutes before going on air, McAfee discovered an official university social media video featuring students doing impressions of him, with participants calling him corny and creepy.

While McAfee acknowledged that college students poking fun at him was nothing new, the source of the broadcast crossed a line for the ESPN star. The university puts that out? he said on his Monday show, noting that he left the Salt Lake valley with a rare feeling of discomfort.

Utah Student Complains About Smaller Kicking Prize

Frustration mounted during the pregame show’s popular field-goal kicking contest. A student selected for the Kicking Is Easy segment complained about the $1 million prize value, comparing it unfavorably to a larger payout the previous week.

"The Pat McAfee Show,"

Wait, wait, wait. The BYU guy got $3 million.

Utah student, via The Salt Lake Tribune

That comparison added to his irritation, stemming from the fact that Utah Jazz and Mammoth owner Ryan Smith and business partner Ryan Sweeney had matched the original $1 million prize during the previous week’s broadcast at rival BYU, a contribution that was not matched for the Salt Lake City event. University student Morgan Boring, a swimmer and chemical engineering major who noted she had never kicked a football prior to the contest, stepped up to the attempt before voicing her question about the funds. During Monday’s daily commentary, McAfee made clear his frustration with the campus atmosphere by stating, Alright, I hate this place. I hate this place.

Reaction across sports media proved swift. Critics on social media labeled him overly sensitive, with accounts questioning how a prominent analyst pulling a reported $30 million annual salary could take student mockery so personally. Additional commentary questioned whether his public grievances were simply part of his broader on-air persona, while other voices on platforms like X took direct aim at the volume of his complaints regarding public criticism.

Salt Lake City, UT - October 24, 2026 - President's Circle: on the set of College GameDay Built by the Home Depot at the
Photo: Deseret News

References to Past Violence and University Apologies

McAfee escalated his remarks by linking the university’s social media post to the September 2025 shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, located about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, asking whether the institution should be amplifying hostility. He questioned whether the school should be spotlighting reasons for people to direct animosity toward him given recent security concerns on college campuses in the region. Staff members and student creators behind the deleted reel had originally compiled the footage to capture pre-broadcast excitement across the university grounds.

By Monday evening, the University of Utah released a formal statement taking full accountability for the Instagram post and issuing an apology to McAfee and the entire ESPN crew. University representatives emphasized that the institution values its relationship with the program, noting that the network had previously brought its pregame show to campus seven times.

Our goal during the visit was to create lighthearted engagement regarding Pat being back on campus, but we missed the mark. University staff are responsible for reviewing and posting content on official social media accounts and we take full accountability for that decision.

University of Utah, via KUTV

University officials confirmed they reached out directly to McAfee to express regret and assure him that he remains welcome on campus, despite the analyst concluding his Saturday appearance by telling the crowd, I’ll never see you again, hopefully. On the field, the 6th-ranked Utes defeated Houston 21-13 in front of a sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium crowd. The matchup marked the 100th consecutive sellout at the venue and featured standout rushing performances from quarterback Devon Dampier, who transferred to the program from New Mexico after compiling nearly 1,200 yards on the ground during the prior year.

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