• Loading stock data...
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Tuned In returns to NYC on September 16. Hear from the biggest names in sports media. Click here to get your spot

Pat McAfee Was Unsure About ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ Return. It Broke Records

ESPN president of content Burke Magnus was effusive in his praise of how McAfee has brought young viewers to the network, and to “College GameDay.”

The Columbus Dispatch

Late into his first season on ESPN’s College GameDay, Pat McAfee reacted to a negative-skewing poll of the program’s viewers in a way that cast doubt on whether he’d be back the following year, tweeting in part that we’ll “see what the future holds.” 

By late December, he’d committed to a return to the iconic college football pregame show with Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Lee Corso, and ultimately, legendary coach Nick Saban. 

In 2024, GameDay averaged 2.2 million viewers, the most in the show’s 38-year history despite coming in the era of cord-cutting, albeit with the benefit of out-of-home viewership. There were marked gains in the elusive younger demographics. 

McAfee is a pied piper of college-age young men and recent graduates, and every entity involved with sports is strategizing on how to replenish this well in an age where content and attention are so fragmented.

In a conversation with Front Office Sports, ESPN president of content Burke Magnus was effusive in his praise of how McAfee delivers the young demo.

“I don’t know about galvanizing college students to show up in person for the show—the crowds seemed enormous across the board, but that’s hard to quantify. I would credit Pat and his appeal with the college-aged fan,” Magnus said.

“But the easiest way to quantify it is we were up 34 percent year over year in the 18-to-24 demo. That just doesn’t happen in our business without something remarkable. To me, that’s the appeal of Pat. I have kids who are 23 and 25. He’s the guy. He’s the voice of their generation and their fandom. He represents them. He’s the guy like Chris Berman was for me.”

Viewership in the 18-to-34 demographic was also up double digits at 14 percent compared to 2023. 

The chemistry on the show was noticeably excellent. Rece Davis is a gold-standard host at facilitating among all of the analysts. Herbstreit and Howard are stalwarts of the show and have continued to keep it fresh. When Corso, 89, is present, it is evident that everybody has a profound reverence for him. 

Furthermore, McAfee has been able to cultivate something resembling a nephew-uncle relationship with immortal football men like Bill Belichick (on McAfee’s eponymous talk show) and Saban. 

“It was a remarkable year in a lot of ways,” Magnus said. 

“Much of it had to do with really finding the absolute perfect chemistry between the team. I give a lot of that credit to Pat and to Coach Saban and to Rece as the ringleader of this crew. The big difference this year was the introduction of Coach Saban. He and Pat forged this fun and unique relationship. Pat had this way of dragging Coach out of his shell. It made Coach more comfortable that Pat was in the center square.” 

In addition to his talk show and GameDay, McAfee also is a color commentator for WWE’s Raw on Netflix during the football offseason.

In the conversation, Magnus also pointed to a couple of extra elements McAfee brought to the table. 

“Pat elevated his game in unbelievable ways with two things that I now feel like are franchise elements of a franchise show: (1) His opening monologue about the campus where they are with the traditions and songs and chants, and (2) the field-goal kicking contest which was 100 percent Pat’s idea and has become every bit as anticipated, in my opinion, as Corso’s headgear bit has been over the years,” Magnus said.

“It was a fantastic season.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Bengals Extend Stadium Lease After $350M in Public Funds for Renovation

The Bengals will stay in the 25-year-old stadium through at least 2036.
opinion

ESPN-NFL Deal Still Contends With a Wild Card: Trump’s Approval

Negotiations between the NFL and Disney have been ongoing for four years

Commanders Seal Stadium Deal As D.C. Approves $1.1B in Funding

The NFL team’s return to its prior home receives key political support.

Belichick Bump Creating Record UNC Ticket Prices

The cost of seeing the NFL legend’s college coaching debut is soaring.

Featured Today

Coco Gauff at New York Liberty

How the New York Liberty Became the Hottest Ticket in Town

Once banished to the burbs, the Libs are now Brooklyn’s marquee attraction.
Las Vegas sign
July 29, 2025

College Sports Embracing Vegas After Years of Cold Shoulder

The Big Ten became the latest newcomer to Sin City.
2000, Jupiter, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Montreal Expos pitcher Hideki Irabu in action on the mound against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium during Spring Training
July 28, 2025

Dead Sports Franchises Are Alive and Well on Twitter

The Expos, Sonics, and Whalers have active social media accounts.
Limited Hype
July 27, 2025

Sneaker Reselling Was Once Easy Money. Success Is Now Complicated

Vendors need to evolve what they’re selling and how they do it.

Comcast Bets Big on Sports, but NBA Price Tag Looms Large

The NBC Sports parent company is absorbing the impacts of adding the NBA.
July 30, 2025

Shannon Sharpe Out at ESPN Following Rape Suit Settlement

He’s been off-air since April, planning to return for the NFL season.
opinion
July 31, 2025

Could Chad Ochocinco Be ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe Replacement?

ESPN moved on from Sharpe after he settled a sexual assault lawsuit.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 30, 2025

Sophie Cunningham Gets Podcast With Cowherd’s Volume, Continuing Breakout

Cunningham’s podcast deal is the latest in a breakout summer.
July 29, 2025

NFL Insiders Delivered Crucial Updates Around Midtown Shooting

Top NFL reporters reached sources at the scene of the shooting.
opinion
July 28, 2025

Why Rumors Nick Saban Could Leave ESPN for Coaching Aren’t Crazy

Saban has not fully ruled out a coaching comeback as rumors swirl.
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Sports personality Stephen A. Smith arrives before the CFP National Championship college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
opinion
July 24, 2025

Why Stephen A. Smith Could Succeed in Dwindling Late-Night TV Era

The face of “First Take” has shown interest in talk-show hosting.