Pat McAfee Criticizes University of Utah Over Social Media Incident

Pat McAfee, an ESPN personality, voiced his displeasure with the University of Utah after a social media post made him uncomfortable prior to the “College GameDay” show. McAfee stated he saw a video on the university’s Instagram account that asked students to impersonate him. Comments in the video labeled him as “corny” and “creepy.” This video was later removed from the university’s accounts.

McAfee, a former NFL punter, explained that while he would not have minded if individual students made these comments, he found the university’s decision to post them troubling, especially just before he appeared before a large audience. He shared his concerns on “The Pat McAfee Show,” emphasizing how unsettling the experience was for him.

McAfee alluded to the tragic incident in September 2025, when political activist Charlie Kirk was shot at an event at Utah Valley University, located near Salt Lake City. McAfee questioned the wisdom of amplifying negative sentiments about him in light of such past events.

The University of Utah issued an apology on its Instagram, attributing the intent of the video to “lighthearted engagement” but admitting it “missed the mark.” The university took full responsibility for the post and extended apologies to McAfee, stressing that he was welcome on the campus.

Despite the uncomfortable situation, McAfee expressed appreciation for Utah’s football team and its supporters, describing the student section as “incredible.” He also thanked the fans who participated in the broadcast. Utah managed to secure a victory against Houston, winning 21-13.