One of the biggest storylines for ESPN’s “College GameDay” throughout the summer has been whether or not the show would secure one of its headline talents, Pat McAfee.
As reported last month by The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, McAfee remained unsigned with the show and his future as a part of College GameDay was up in the air with just a month now remaining until the college football season gets underway.
Marchand also noted that both sides want to partner up for the future, but they hadn’t agreed to a deal. On Wednesday, McAfee made the announcement on what his future with the show looks like.
He will, in fact, be a part of the College GameDay crew for the 2024 season.
“I’m lucky, I’m honored, I’m humble, I’m grateful, and I’m back,” McAfee said in the video. “I can’t wait for Dublin on Aug. 24. Let’s have the greatest year of football in the history of college football. Hell yeah.”
This is good news for the folks at ESPN, as McAfee brings a renewed energy to the show that was starting to fade with David Pollack being let go and Lee Corso’s age starting to affect his ability to demand the spotlight.
During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” last year, Kirk Herbstreit said that he’d leave College GameDay if McAfee didn’t return.
“I’m just going to say this right now,” he said. “If you dare even think of leaving ‘College GameDay,’ I’m leaving with you. I am. I am. I’m dead serious. …
“I’m not kissing your ass. I’m not just telling you that – and I told you this a lot – that you’ve changed my experience. I work really hard with these three projects I’m on. I’m on GameDay, the Thursday night game with Al (Michaels) and Saturday with Chris (Fowler). You’ve really changed the approach, the energy, not just on the set, but like the week. I’m having a blast. … It’s like being on a team where you get good energy.”
In May, McAfee said, “I don’t know if (many, many years) is the case, but it will get figured out. And it will. It was an honor, it is an honor to be a part of College GameDay,” according to On3.
Pat McAfee’s return to the show creates a lot of steam for the show, but that’s not the only big news surrounding the show. In addition to Herbstreit, McAfee, Corso, Rece Davis, and Desmond Howard, legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban will also join the show as an analyst.
The 2024 college football season is right around the corner, folks, and with the biggest pre-game show on the market now locked up with its talent, we can start to build the momentum heading into August.
