Pat McAfee and the Ever-Evolving Landscape of College Football
Patrick Justin McAfee (born May 2, 1987), an American sports analyst, color commentator, and former professional football punter and kickoff specialist, is a prominent figure in the world of sports media. Known for his bold opinions and engaging personality, McAfee has become a staple on ESPN's College GameDay and hosts The Pat McAfee Show. His insights into college football are often delivered with a unique blend of humor and expertise, making him a popular voice among fans.
McAfee's Pro Career
McAfee's journey in football began as a placekicker for the West Virginia Mountaineers. His performance earned him a spot in the NFL, where he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played in Super Bowl XLIV in his rookie year, where the Colts lost against the New Orleans Saints. He handled punting and kick-off duties for the Colts in 2009, as well as holding for extra points and field goals, a position he had never played before. McAfee was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September 2014. In Week 3 of the 2015 season, McAfee earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week against the Tennessee Titans. On February 2, 2017, after eight seasons, McAfee retired from the NFL.
McAfee's Media Career
Since retiring from football in February 2017, McAfee has transitioned into a successful career as a football analyst and media personality. He was a guest host for Fox Sports' college and NFL broadcasts in late 2018, before being announced as part of ESPN's Thursday Night College Football team in July 2019. In addition, he makes regular appearances for Get Up!.
On August 7, 2019, it was reported that McAfee would begin to host a two-hour, weekday radio show, The Pat McAfee Show, beginning September 9, 2019, syndicated by DAZN and Westwood One. In September 2020, The Pat McAfee Show moved to Sirius XM's Mad Dog Sports Radio from 12 to 3 pm on weekdays. The show is also broadcast live on YouTube. During the NFL season, McAfee frequently hosts New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers on his program.
PMI continued to operate McAfee's charity, The Pat McAfee Foundation, and began selling merchandise.
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McAfee served as a guest commentator for WWE's NXT TakeOver events in 2018, before signing a contract with the promotion in February 2019. On April 16, 2021, WWE announced that McAfee had been moved to the SmackDown brand, serving as color commentator alongside Michael Cole. On January 27, 2024, McAfee once again returned at Royal Rumble as a surprise guest commentator and surprise entrant at #22 in the men's Royal Rumble match. McAfee returned on the premiere of Raw on Netflix on January 6, 2025, once again partnering with Michael Cole, and going on to become a full time commentator for the brand.
McAfee's Bold ACC Prediction
In the wake of an unexpected ACC upset, McAfee made a bold declaration during a College GameDay appearance, naming the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets as the team that "runs this ACC right now." This statement came after Miami's surprising loss to Louisville.
McAfee's statement reflects the Yellowjackets' strong performance. As of Week 8, the 6-0 Yellowjackets were the last remaining unbeaten team in the ACC. Their chances of making the College Football Playoff jumped to 21.3% in ESPN's FPI. The Yellowjackets have been excellent at winning close games, picking up victories over Colorado, Clemson, and Wake Forest by a combined total of seven points.
Analyzing Georgia Tech's Success
Despite not being highly rated by computer models (ranked 36th in FPI), Georgia Tech's success can be attributed to several factors:
- Power Running Game: The Yellowjackets average 238 rushing yards per game and 6.18 yards per carry, posing a significant challenge for opposing defenses.
- Experienced Quarterback: Senior QB Haynes King is a dual-threat, contributing both through the air (971 passing yards) and on the ground (440 rushing yards).
- Clutch Performances: Tech's defense has played well enough to secure narrow victories.
The Yellow Jackets secured another ACC victory, defeating the Duke Blue Devils 27-10. A major turning point in the first quarter came when Georgia Tech's Omar Daniels returned a forced fumble on the goal line for a 95-yard defensive touchdown, giving the Yellow Jackets an early 7-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets’ offense then executed a decisive nine-play, 72-yard drive, with running back Malachi Hosley punching in a 10-yard touchdown run to give Georgia Tech a 10-point lead. Haynes King officially sealed the win with a 27-yard touchdown run shortly after, bringing the final score to 27-18.
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Other Notable College Football Games
While McAfee focused on the ACC, Week 8 of the college football season featured several other noteworthy games:
- UAB 31, No. Memphis: UAB, with a freshman quarterback making his first start, upset a favored Memphis team. Freshman Ryder Burton made the most of his first collegiate start, throwing for 251 yards and three touchdowns to lead UAB. The Tigers never found rhythm offensively. Early in the third quarter, Memphis quarterback Brendon Lewis left the game with an injury after being sacked. True freshman A.J. UAB capitalized on Memphis’ mistakes, stretching its lead to 31-17 in the fourth quarter with an 81-yard touchdown run from Solomon Beebe and Burton’s third scoring toss to Hooks.
- Boise State 49, UNLV 24: Boise State dominated undefeated UNLV, racking up 558 yards of total offense and extending their home winning streak to 16 games.
- No. 9 Georgia 43, No. Ole Miss 41: Georgia overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Ole Miss in a high-scoring affair. Quarterback Gunner Stockton fueled the comeback with 348 total yards and five touchdowns - four passing and one rushing. Tight end Lawson Luckie caught three of those scoring passes, including the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
- Arizona State 26, No. Washington 23: Arizona State upset No. Washington, with quarterback Sam Leavitt delivering a steady performance after returning from injury. Cornerback Martell Hughes intercepted a pass early in the third quarter, setting up a short Leavitt-to-Jordyn Tyson touchdown that gave Arizona State a 16-7 lead. But Arizona State answered immediately.
- No. 17 Vanderbilt 31, No. 10 LSU 24: The No. 17 Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the No. 10 LSU Tigers 31-24 in Nashville. Vanderbilt opened the second half with an effective 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, ending in Pavia's connection with Cole Spence, extending its lead to 24-13. Nussmeier promptly retaliated, scrambling to connect with Zavion Thomas for a 62-yard touchdown pass, and a successful two-point conversion closed the gap to 24-21. Vanderbilt's offense continued to keep up the pace, with Pavia's mobility key to their next possession; he ended a 10-play, 75-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown to put the Commodores up 31-21 by the end of the third quarter.
- Houston 31, Arizona 28: The Houston Cougars defeated the Arizona Wildcats 31-28 after kicker Ethan Sanchez connected on a walk-off 41-yard field goal. Weigman then engineered an impressive 13-play, 96-yard touchdown drive, which he capped off with a 10-yard rushing TD, evening the contest at 14-14. Houston extended its lead after the break as Weigman led a marathon 17-play, 75-yard drive that consumed nearly nine minutes and finished with a touchdown pass to Thomas, making the score 28-14. The Wildcats responded in the fourth quarter with a lengthy drive of 13-play, 75-yard drive that lasted over six minutes, with Spivey scoring a rushing touchdown on a jet sweep to cut the lead to 28-21. The Cougars' subsequent drive stalled in Arizona territory, and kicker Sanchez missed a 48-yard field goal attempt, setting up the Wildcats for the tying score. Arizona capitalized on the miss, driving 70 yards in 10 plays. Kedrick Reescano two-yard touchdown run leveled the score at 28-28 with under seven minutes left.
- Louisville knocks off No. 2 Miami: A fieiry Cardinal team stunned No. 2 Miami on the road, 24-21. Trick plays, and three quartbacks for the Louisville team pushed them ahead early while wide reciever Chris Bell had nine catches for 136 yards with two touchdowns on the night.
McAfee's Enduring Impact
Pat McAfee's influence extends beyond his on-air analysis. He has a strong connection to his alma mater, West Virginia University, and has been involved in charitable endeavors. McAfee was a regular on the nationally syndicated morning radio program The Bob & Tom Show. In 2018, McAfee made his professional baseball debut for the Washington Wild Things as a right-fielder and guest first base coach.
McAfee's journey from NFL punter to media personality showcases his versatility and passion for sports. His unique style and insightful commentary have made him a prominent voice in college football and beyond.
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